Alaa Q Aldhaheri¹, Ali M Janabi²

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of taxifolin in sepsis-induced renal injury. Methods: A total of 24 adult male Swiss albino mice were randomly and equally assigned to 4 groups (n = 6). Group 1 was the control (exposed to abdominal laparotomy without cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) procedure), group 2 underwent CLP with no treatment, and groups 3 and 4 received intraperitoneal DMSO and taxifolin (10 mg/kg), respectively, 1 h before the CLP procedure. Renal function, NF-κB, MDA levels, Nrf2 expression, and caspase-3 activity were evaluated. Results: Sepsis induced by CLP led to significant deterioration of renal function, characterized by higher serum creatinine and renal KIM-1, including severe histopathological kidney damage. Sepsis induced by CLP increased NF-κB and MDA levels, downregulated Nrf2 expression, and elevated caspase-3 activity. Taxifolin administration significantly mitigated these alterations, enhanced renal function and histological architecture, suppressed oxidative damage and the inflammatory response, and restored Nrf2 signaling. Conclusion: Taxifolin conferred a substantial renoprotective effect against acute kidney impairment induced by sepsis by reducing inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and preserving tubular structural integrity.