Geraniol Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Mediated Kidney Injury through Alteration of Antioxidant Status, Inflammation, and Apoptosis: Potential Roles of NF-κB and Nrf2/Ho-1

Figure 1. (A–C) Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on kidney function markers. Data are presented as mean + SD (n = 5). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; Gr100 and Gr200 indicate 100 and 200 mg of geraniol per kilogram of body weight, respectively.

Figure 2. (A–C) Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on kidney oxidative stress indicators. Data are presented as mean + SD (n = 5). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001; n.s., p > 0.05 or non-significant. Gr100 and Gr200 indicate 100 and 200 mg of geraniol per kilogram of body weight, respectively.

Figure 3. (A–G) Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on protein and gene expression of antioxidant stress markers. Data are presented as mean + SD (n = 6). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001; n.s., p > 0.05 or non-significant. Gr100 and Gr200 indicate 100 and 200 mg of geraniol per kilogram of body weight, respectively.

Figure 4. (A–D) Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on protein expression of inflammatory mediators. Data are presented as mean + SD (n = 6). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001; n.s., p > 0.05 or non-significant. Gr100 and Gr200 indicate 100 and 200 mg of geraniol per kilogram of body weight, respectively.

Figure 5. (A–D) Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on protein expression of apoptotic markers by Western blot. Data are presented as mean + SD (n = 6). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001. Gr100 and Gr200 indicate 100 and 200 mg of geraniol per kilogram of body weight, respectively.

Figure 6. (A–D). Effects of geraniol (Gr), doxorubicin (Dox), or their combination (Dox + Gr100 and Dox + Gr200) on kidney tissue as visualized using H&E staining and light microscopy: (A) normal architecture of the kidney; (B) mild interstitial inflammation (indicated by arrows) consisting of lymphocytes, caused by Dox administration; and (C,D) geraniol-treatment-improved glomeruli, tubules, and tubular epithelial cell morphology at both tested doses. Scale bar is 0.1 mm.

Figure 7. Diagram of the proposed nephroprotective mechanism of geraniol against the toxic effects of doxorubicin.