Citrus bergamia Risso & Poiteau Juice Protects against Renal Injury of Diet-induced Hypercholesterolemia in Rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of treatment with Citrus bergamia juice (1 mL/day, for 30 days) against hypercholesterolemic diet-induced renal injury in rat. C. bergamia juice provoked a significant reduction in the plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, and an increase in HDL levels, versus hyperlipidemic controls (p < 0.05). Plasma creatinine levels, measured to assess renal glomerular function, did not change compared with hyperlipidemic controls (0.37 ± 0.11 mg/dL and 0.32 ± 0.10 mg/dL, respectively). Moreover, in vivo lipid peroxidation was measured in kidney homogenate; C. bergamia juice administration significantly decreased MDA levels elevations compared with hyperlipidemic controls (4.10 ± 0.10 nmol/mg protein and 4.78 ± 0.15 nmol/mg protein, respectively). Histological observations of the kidney supported the biochemical data and indicated a protective effect of C. bergamia juice on the development of renal damage in hypercholesterolemic rats. The antioxidant potential of C. bergamia juice was examined in two in vitro systems: in the DPPH test the juice showed a noticeable effect on scavenging free radicals (IC50 = 25.01 ± 0.70 mL); in the reducing power assay it showed a strong activity, too (1.44 ± 0.01 ASE/mL). These findings suggest that C. bergamia juice has a protective role in hypercholesterolemic diet-induced renal damage, which may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.