Quinoa Seed Extract Attenuates Acute Kidney Injury in Hyperuricemic Rats Via Upregulation of Antioxidant Defense Genes, Metabolic Physiological Parameters, and Immunological Properties

The present study aimed to characterize the in vitro antioxidant/antimicrobial activities of quinoa seed extract (QE) and to evaluate its protective effects on renal, hematological, and metabolic parameters in hyperuricemic rats, including modulation of renal defense genes and immune responses.QE showed antioxidant activity with DPPH IC₅₀=42.3µg/mL, and total phenolics were 55.6±2.7mgGAE/g.QE demonstrated antibacterial activity against both uropathogens and key oral pathogens in a dosedependent manner.With inhibition zones of 16 and 15.8 mm against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans.For in-vivo experiments, male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=6): control, hyperuricemic AKI (potassium oxonate + uric acid, 7 days), QE alone (200mg/kg), and hyperuricemic+QE (200 mg/kg).Renal function (creatinine, BUN), oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10) and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD1, and catalase were measured.QE alone caused no adverse effects.Hyperuricemic rats showed elevated serum uric acid (8.4 mg/dL), creatinine (1.5 mg/dL) and BUN (45 mg/dL), increased renal MDA, decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced expression of Nrf2 (0.4 fold), HO 1 (0.3 fold), and SOD1 (0.5 fold), and a pro inflammatory state with high IL 1β and TNF α and low IL 10.Treatment with QE (200mg/kg) significantly restored renal physiology: uric acid reduced to 3.1mg/dL, creatinine to 0.6 mg/dL, BUN to 18 mg/dL (P<0.01);MDA lowered by 65%; SOD, CAT and GPx activities normalized; and Nrf2, HO-1, and SOD1 mRNA upregulated (3.5, 4.2 and 2.8-fold, respectively).QE (200mg/kg) exhibited potent immunological properties, reducing renal IL-1β by 58% and TNF-α by 62% while increasing anti-inflammatory IL-10 by 3.1-fold, indicating a shift toward an immunoregulatory phenotype.These immunological properties were confirmed by histology, which showed reduced tubular necrosis and attenuated immune cell infiltration.Finally, the combination of antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities together with antimicrobial effects suggests that QE is a promising nutraceutical for the management of hyperuricemia-induced AKI.