Arsenic has a long history as a potent human poison, chronic exposure over a period of time may result in the manifestation of toxicity in practically all systems of the body. In the present investigation the efficacy of naringenin (NRG), a naturally occurring citrus flavanone against arsenic-induced hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic manifestations have been studied in rats. Arsenic trioxide was administered orally at the dose of 2 mg/kg/day with or without combination of NRG (20 or 50 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period the hepatic and renal dysfunction was evaluated by histological examination, serum biomarkers and markers of oxidative stress; lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes. Arsenic intoxication increased serum bilirubin, urea, uric acid and creatinine levels, additionally enhanced the activities of hepatic marker enzymes aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. Also, the hepatic and renal tissues showed a marked elevation in LPO levels with a decrease in GSH content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase on arsenic treatment. Simultaneous treatment with NRG restored the activities of serum biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes in the tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the histopathological studies confirmed the protective effect of NRG co-treatment by reducing the pathological changes due to arsenic intoxication in both liver and kidney. Thus, our present study demonstrates that NRG has a potential to protect arsenic-induced oxidative hepatic and renal dysfunction.

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