Background: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-lipooxygenase (LOX) pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the role of dietary phenol caffeic acid (CA), alone and in combination with selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (CEL) in IR-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in rats. Materials and Methods: Renal IR was induced by bilateral occlusion of renal pedicels for 90 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Rats were randomized into 4 groups: Sham, IR, CA + IR, and CA + CEL + IR, with 7 day treatment before IR. Serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), antioxidant enzymes, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and histopathological changes were evaluated in the kidney after IR. Results: Renal IR caused significant derangement in renal function and histology. In the IR group, an increase in lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant defense enzyme activity were observed. Pretreatment with CA and CA + CEL showed a significant decrease in the BUN, SCr, TNF-α, oxidative stress markers and corrected the histological changes in the kidney. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the renoprotective potential of CA and combination of CA + CEL in IR-induced ARF in rats. The plausible mechanisms for the efficacy of CA could be attributed to its ability to modulate the COX-LOX system in renal IR.
