Several antibiotics are known to pose a high risk of kidney damage — which in some cases can result in complete kidney failure. One such drug, gentamicin, is very toxic to the kidneys. Its use not infrequently leads to renal failure.

Studies have shown that the main toxic effect of gentamicin is on the mitochondria of kidney cells. One recent study confirmed that curcumin could significantly protect the kidneys from damage by gentamicin, and that it did so by improving mitochondrial function (increasing the level of two important protective molecules, Nrf2 and PPAR-γ).

Ellagic acid, naringenin, ginkgo biloba, and astaxanthin have also shown powerful protective properties against kidney damage by gentamicin.

Naringenin was especially effective for preventing histological kidney damage by the antibiotic.

Ginkgo biloba also protected the kidneys from gentamicin toxicity. In fact, studies on mice found that the animals given ginkgo before and during gentamicin exposure had completely normal kidneys, whereas those not given the ginkgo suffered severe kidney damage.