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Attenuation of cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity by orally administered Crassocephalum rubens synthesized gold nanoparticles in rats

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd), an environmental contaminant with a wide range of harmful effects, causes hepatotoxicity by inducing oxidative stress in liver cells. Crassocephalum rubens synthesized gold nanoparticles (CR-AuNPs) has strong antioxidant capacity with the potential to mitigate the Cd-induced oxidative injury. This study investigated the capability of CR-AuNPs in attenuating Cd-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced by daily oral administration of CdCl2 (20 mg/kg) to rats for 5 days. Thereafter, a hepatoprotective drug (silymarin, 10 mg/kg) and CR-AuNPs (5 and 10 mg/kg) were orally given daily to the intoxicated rats for 14 days. Biomarkers of hepatotoxicity (serum albumin, ALT, AST, liver arginase, SOD and MDA levels, and mRNA expressions of GGT and TNF) were determined to assess treatment effects. Administration of CdCl2 resulted in significant (p < 0.05) elevation in levels of hepatic biomarkers (ALT and AST), liver arginase, and malondialdehyde, as well as upregulation in mRNA expression of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genes in comparison with control group. Treatment of Cd administered rats with CR-AuNPs for 14 days attenuated these changes, as evidenced by significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the levels of these parameters and significant elevation (p < 0.05) in serum albumin and liver superoxide dismutase when compared with the Cd-induced liver toxicity rats. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that CR-AuNPs (mostly at 10 mg/kg b.w.) could attenuate the Cd-induced pathological changes in rat’s liver.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ANOVA:

One-way analysis of variance

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

CR-AuNPs:

Crassocephalum rubens Synthesized gold nanoparticles

EDX:

Energy dispersive X-ray

FTIR:

Fourier-transform infrared

GGT:

γ-Glutamyl transferase

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

UV-vis:

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the technologists of Biochemistry Program, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria for technical assistance provided during the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Program, Department of Chemical Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Km 8.5, Afe Babalola Way, P.M.B 5454, Ado-EkitiAdo-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria

    Olusola Bolaji Adewale, Scholastica Onyebuchi Anadozie, Justice C. Odomene, Oluwatobiloba Akinlade, Oyindamola Adeniyi Olaoye, Joseph Obabiolorunkosi Awe & Olukemi Adetutu Osukoya

  2. Industrial Chemistry Programme, Department of Chemical Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Km 8.5, Afe Babalola Way, P.M.B 5454, Ado-EkitiAdo-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria

    Funmilayo Deborah Adewumi & Olajumoke Tolulope Idowu

Authors
  1. Olusola Bolaji Adewale
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  2. Scholastica Onyebuchi Anadozie
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  3. Justice C. Odomene
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  4. Oluwatobiloba Akinlade
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  5. Funmilayo Deborah Adewumi
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  8. Joseph Obabiolorunkosi Awe
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Contributions

OBA conceptualized the idea. OBA and SOA supervised, analyzed data, and interpreted the results. JCO, OA, and AAO executed the research work under the guidance of JOA, DFA, and OTI. OBA, SOA, and OAO contributed to preparation of the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Olusola Bolaji Adewale.

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No external funding received.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

All animal procedures were carried out following the EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments and the Animal Research Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines, as well as the of Afe Babalola University’s animal ethics committee guidelines.

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Adewale, O.B., Anadozie, S.O., Odomene, J.C. et al. Attenuation of cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity by orally administered Crassocephalum rubens synthesized gold nanoparticles in rats. Comp Clin Pathol 32, 691–698 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-023-03477-y

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