Effect of Spinach Against Arsenic Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken with a view to evaluate the efficacy of spinach against arsenic (As) induced toxicity in rats during the period between July to October 2008. Thirty six female Long Evans rats (age about 120days; average body weight at day 0 = 154.5g) were randomly divided into three equal groups (n=12) and marked as T 0, T 1 and T 2 groups. Rats of T 0 group were given normal feed and water and kept as control. Rats of T 1 and T 2 groups were given 5mg Sodium arsenite/kg body weight (BW) and 5mg Sodium arsenite/kg (BW) plus spinach extract 100 mg/kg body weight respectively daily for 30 days orally. Four rats from each group were sacrificed at 10 days interval in order to quantitatively determine the As content in liver, lungs and kidney by using Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum creatinine were determined by Autoanalyser. No visible clinical sign were observed in any group of experimental rats except loss of body weight in the spinach treated group. Tissue (lung, liver and kidney) concentration of As was significantly (p<0.01) higher in T 1 group rats compared to that of T 0 and T 2 groups and the highest concentration of As was found in kidney followed by lung and liver in T 1 group rats. After 30 days of feeding, spinach significantly (p<0.01) decreased As from lung, liver and kidney. As intoxication significantly (p<0.01) increased SGOT values but insignificantly decrease SGPT values and spinach treatment improve these condition. There was no significant effect found in serum creatinine level. It can be concluded that feeding of spinach could reduce body burden of As in rats.

Ameliorative effect of tephrosia purpurea in arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

“…[37] Relatively reduced level of MDA along with improved SOD and GSH in group II than group I as evidenced from our study [Table 1] may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids like quercetin and rutin in T. purpurea . [3839] The reduced degree of necrosis and desquamation [Figures 3 and 4] in group II rats in the present experiment again established the nephroprotective effect of T. purpurea .…”

Effectiveness of combined treatment using Spirulina and vitamin A against chronic arsenicosis in rats

“…Zhang et al (1995) had also observed that there is a relationship between arsenic level and degree of chronic renal insufficiency in men. The result of this study was dissimilar with the findings of Yasmin et al (2011) Islam et al (2009 and Roger et al (2000) which concluded that there were no significant rises in the serum creatinine levels of arsenic treated mice. A slight reduction in serum creatinine was however observed with the time progression in our study for the Spirulina and Vitamin A treated group (T 4 ), suggesting that Spirulina and Vitamin A may improve liver function.…”

The Ameliorative Effect of Green Tea, Garlic and Vitamin C on Arsenic Toxicity in Male Mice: Biochemical and Histological Forensic Perspectives

“…The pathway of arsenic found in drinking water was explained by Karmakar et al [6]. target organ for arsenic toxicity and carcinogenesis [2,31] showed abnormal increase in ALT and AST enzymes and these findings are supported by several investigations. Yasmin et al [13] found that the activities of both enzymes were significantly higher in arsenic treated mice and rats, indicating liver dysfunction and disturbance [32].…”

“…Toxicity, aging and diseases are among the main health problems caused by free radicals inside cells [1]. Drinking water contaminated with inorganic arsenic is the main source of arsenic toxicity [2]. In fish and seaweed, arsenic is found in the form of arsenolipids and could be added to hot tea or food to kill people [3].…”