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Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic prophylactic effect of silymarin against lead-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats

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Abstract

This study assessed prophylactic potentials of silymarin against lead-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats with the respect to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities. Forty male albino rats were distributed into four groups. Control group is provided with distilled water. Lead acetate group was given lead acetate (100 mg/kg bwt) orally for 10 weeks. The third and fourth groups administered silymarin at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg bwt, respectively, 1 h before administration of lead acetate for 10 weeks. Lead acetate altered liver structure and function that represented by significant elevation of the activities of serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and serum levels of urea and creatinine. Hepatic and renal tissues’ malondialdehyde concentrations were increased, while reduced glutathione content and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were reduced in the lead acetate group. Also, lead acetate increased caspase-3 mRNA expression and inhibited alpha-fetoprotein mRNA expression in hepatic tissues, as well as it altered liver and kidney tissues’ architectures. In contrast, silymarin ameliorated in a dose dependent mannar the toxic effects of lead acetate on the liver and kidneys through modulation of lead acetate which altered liver and kidney function and structures via reducing lipid oxidation and pathological changes of hepatic and renal tissue structure, improving antioxidant defense system of liver and kidneys, and decreasing pro-apoptotic gene expression in hepatic tissue. This study indicated that silymarin ameliorated lead acetate-induced hepatorenal toxicity via its antioxidant and cytoprotective potentials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/57), Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

The current work was funded by Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP - 2020/57), Taif university, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Menoufia University, Sheben El-Koom, 32512, Egypt

    Mabrouk Attia Abd Eldaim

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, 32897, Egypt

    Eman Ragab Barakat

  3. Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Alkafafy & Samy Ahmed Abd Elaziz

  4. Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Samy Ahmed Abd Elaziz

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  1. Mabrouk Attia Abd Eldaim
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  2. Eman Ragab Barakat
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  3. Mohamed Alkafafy
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  4. Samy Ahmed Abd Elaziz
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Contributions

Abd Eldaim MA, Barakat ER, and Ahmed SA suggested the goal and the experimental design; Abd Eldaim MA, Barakat ER, and Alkafafy M performed the experiment with the help of Ahmed SA; Abd Eldaim MA and Ahmed SA supervised the implementation of the experiment; Abd Eldaim MA, Barakat ER, and Ahmed SA analyzed the results; Barakat ER and Alkafafy M conducted the histopathological examination. All authors discussed the results, write the draft of the manuscript, and finalize the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mabrouk Attia Abd Eldaim.

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Ethical approval

This study was approved by the International Animal Care and Use Committee, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt with approval number, Vusc-005-5-20, which follows the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edition Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011.

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Not applicable as our study did not involve humans.

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The authors declare no competing of interests.

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Responsible Editor: Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

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Abd Eldaim, M.A., Barakat, E.R., Alkafafy, M. et al. Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic prophylactic effect of silymarin against lead-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 57997–58006 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14722-8

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