Mechanisms involved the pathogenesis of renal I/R injury and possible renoprotective mechanisms of palm date extracts. Renal ischemia for 45-min caused loss of renal tubular epithelial cells by necrosis and apoptosis via upregulation of the free oxygen radicals, inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Also, it enhanced the expression of nrf2 to increase the resistance of renal tubular epithelia cells to withstand oxidative stress and increases the expression of TGF-β which help renal fibrosis. Renal fibrosis and acute tubular necrosis result in impairment of the renal functions. Palm dates might exert their renoprotective effects via attacking the production of free radicals, upregulation of Nrf2 and downregulation of TNF-α and TGF-β.

This work investigates the possible renoprotective effects of date palm fruits and seeds extract against renal ischemia and their underlying mechanisms.

108-Sprague Dawle male rats were randomly allocated into 6 equal groups differently receiving aqueous or methanolic fruit and seed extracts. Assay of serum creatinine, BUN and TNF-α, morphological examination of the left kidney, markers of the redox state (MDA, CAT, and GSH), the expression of TNFα and Nrf2 genes at the level of mRNA, the expression of caspase-3 and TGF-β proteins by immunohistochemistry were performed.

45-min renal I/R caused significant deterioration of kidney functions (increase in serum creatinine and BUN) and morphology (P < 0.001) and significant reduction in CAT activity and GSH levels with significant increase in serum TNF-α and MDA concentration and the expression of Nrf2, caspase-3, TNF-α, and TGF-β in kidney tissues. Pre-treatment with either date palm fruit or seed extracts significantly improved kidney functions and morphology (P ≤ 0.001) with a significant increase in the expression of Nrf2 and CAT activity, and GSH concentration and a reduction in serum TNF-α and expression of caspase-3, TNF-α, and TGF-β (P < 0.001).

Administration of date palm extracts exhibited a renoprotective effect against renal I/R injury.This renoprotective action might be due to their antioxidants, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory actions. Moreover, aqueous fruit extracts offered powerful renoprotective effect than aqueous seed extracts, and aqueous fruit and seed extracts were generally more effective than methanolic extracts.