Zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) have garnered a great deal of attention as potential
cancer therapy. The use of microorganisms in the synthesis of nanoparticles emerges as an eco-friendly and exciting approach. This study was designed to assess biosynthesized Zn-NPs as therapeutic agent against
kidney cancer induced by
ferric-nitrilotriacetate (
Fe-NTA) in rats.Zn-NPs were synthesized from edible mushroom then characterized by transmission electron microscopy analysis, dynamic light scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Rats were divided into 4 different groups: group I (control), group II (
Fe-NTA group), group III (Zn-NPs group), and group IV (Fe-NTA + Zn-NPs group). Animals were sacrificed then kidney and liver function tests, MDA level,
glutathione,
glutathione peroxidase, and
superoxide dismutase activities were measured by using colorimetric methods.
Caspase-3 level and
carcinoembryonic antigen concentration were measured by using ELISA. Finally, DNA fragmentation was visualized by using
agarose gel electrophoresis.Treatment with Zn-NPs significantly suppressed renal oxidative stress by restoring
glutathione level,
glutathione peroxidase, and
superoxide dismutase activities and ameliorated oxidative damage parameters of lipid peroxidation as well as renal toxicity markers. Molecular and
tumor markers showed significant improvement with respect to induction group, and this was well appreciated with the histopathological alteration findings in the treated groups.Microbial synthesized Zn-NPs possess antitumor-promoting activity against
Fe-NTA-induced toxicity and
carcinogenesis, which should be evaluated in a clinical study.