Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a stable fluorinated organic pollutant that induces adverse effects on kidneys. Its toxicity is primarily linked with oxidative imbalance, inflammation, and apoptosis in renal tissues. The current investigation was aimed to explore the protective efficacy of zapotin (ZAP), a plant-derived flavonoid, against PFOS-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. The animals were subjected to four treatments, each having 12 rats as follows: Control, PFOS (10mg/kg), PFOS + ZAP (10mg/kg + 20mg/kg), and ZAP (20mg/kg). Our findings showed that PFOS-exposure lowered the enzymatic activity of antioxidants, including glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxidase dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) content, while the levels of MDA and ROS were escalated. Furthermore, the levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), were significantly elevated. PFOS-intoxication upsurged creatinine, NGAL, urinary proteins, KIM-1, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, at the same time, it reduced creatinine clearance. PFOS intoxication also increased the levels of apoptotic markers Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9, accompanied by a reduction in the levels of anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2. Besides, PFOS exposure instigated severe histological damage in the renal tissues. Nonetheless, ZAP markedly restored the above-mentioned alterations that may be due to its reno-protective potential.

To Cite This Article: Tahir A and Ijaz MU, 2026. Nephroprotective potential of zapotin against perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced kidney damage in male rats: a biochemical, inflammatory, apoptotic and histopathological evaluation. Pak Vet J, 46(8): 2067-2073. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.189