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Protective effect of Allium sativum (garlic) aqueous extract against lead-induced oxidative stress in the rat brain, liver, and kidney

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Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the ameliorative activity of Allium sativum against lead-induced oxidative stress in the brain, liver, and kidney of male rats. Four groups of male Wistar strain rats (100–120 g) were taken: group 1 received 1000 mg/L sodium acetate and group 2 was given 1000 mg/L lead acetate through drinking water for 2 weeks. Group 3 and 4 were treated with 250 mg/kg body weight/day of A. sativum and 500 mg/kg body weight/day of A. sativum, respectively, by oral intubation for a period of 2 weeks along with lead acetate. The rats were sacrificed after treatment and the brain, liver, and kidney were isolated on ice. In the brain, four important regions namely the hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and brain stem were separated and used for the present investigation. Blood was also drawn by cardiac puncture and preserved in heparinized vials at 4 °C for estimation of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation products (LPP), total protein carbonyl content (TPCC), and lead in the selected brain regions, liver, and kidney of lead-exposed group compared with their respective controls. Blood delta-ALAD activity showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the lead-exposed rats. However, the concomitant administration of A. sativum resulted in tissue-specific recovery of oxidative stress parameters namely ROS, LPP, and TPCC. A. sativum treatment also restored the blood delta-ALAD activity back to control. Overall, our results indicate that A. sativum administration could be an effective antioxidant treatment strategy for lead-induced oxidative insult.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the administration of Andhra University for providing research facilities for this international collaboration of undergraduate student research training program. This work was supported by NIH/NCMHD/MHIRT, Grant #9 T37MD001532 awarded to Bettaiya Rajanna at Alcorn State University, MS, USA. Arwakee K Henley and Chelsea J Nelson were MHIRT (Minority Health International Research Training) undergraduate student participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Animal Physiology and Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530003, India

    V. Manoj Kumar, O. Indumati & Y. Prabhakara Rao

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS, USA

    A. K. Henley, C. J. Nelson, S. Rajanna & B. Rajanna

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  1. V. Manoj Kumar
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  2. A. K. Henley
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  3. C. J. Nelson
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  4. O. Indumati
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  5. Y. Prabhakara Rao
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  6. S. Rajanna
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  7. B. Rajanna
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Correspondence to Y. Prabhakara Rao.

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This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC).

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Manoj Kumar, V., Henley, A.K., Nelson, C.J. et al. Protective effect of Allium sativum (garlic) aqueous extract against lead-induced oxidative stress in the rat brain, liver, and kidney. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1544–1552 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7923-3

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