Protective role of black garlic water extract in kidney injury induced by cisplatin in mice

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication of cisplatin chemotherapy in cancer patients, with no effective treatment currently available. Oxidative stress and renal tubular damage are key contributors to its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and renoprotective effects of black garlic water extract in a cisplatin-induced AKI mouse model. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into six groups: Control, Cisplatin only (20 mg/kg), black garlic extract pretreatment at 50 or 100 mg/kg followed by cisplatin (Cis + B50, Cis + B100), amifostine pretreatment (200 mg/kg) as positive control (Cis + A200), and black garlic extract only (100 mg/kg). Black garlic extract was characterized for its sulfur compound content and antioxidant potential. RESULTS: Black garlic contained significantly higher levels of S-allyl-L-cysteine (191.2 ± 32.87 µg/g) than raw garlic (20.7 ± 0.8 µg/g) and effectively delayed low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Pretreatment with black garlic extract reduced cisplatin-induced weight loss, renal index elevation, and tubular damage. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, were significantly increased in the Cis + B100 and Cis + B50 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Black garlic extract confers protection against cisplatin-induced AKI by enhancing renal antioxidant defenses and mitigating oxidative stress-related damage. These findings support its potential as a complementary approach for preventing nephrotoxicity during cisplatin therapy.