HPLC Analysis and the Antioxidant and Preventive Actions of Opuntia stricta Juice Extract against Hepato-Nephrotoxicity and Testicular Injury Induced by Cadmium Exposure

Abstract

Opuntia stricta is a rich source of phenolic compounds. This species generally has strong antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds isolated from Opuntia stricta, including its radical scavenging activities and preventive action against Cd-induced oxidative stress in rats. To assess the protection of prickly pear juice extract (PPJE) against Cd-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity and testicular damage, male albino rats received PPJE (250 mg kg−1) and/or Cd (1 mg kg−1) by oral administration and injection, respectively, for five consecutive weeks. The preventive action of PPJE was estimated using biochemical markers of kidney and liver tissues, antioxidant status, and histological examinations. In the present study, the lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, antioxidant status, and metallothionein levels were determined in different tissues. The chromatographic analysis indicated that PPJE extract is very rich in phenolic compounds such as verbascoside, catechin hydrate, and oleuropein. Our results showed that PPJE-treated rats had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased Cd levels in liver and kidney tissues. In addition, the administration of PPJE induced a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation of 30.5, 54.54, and 40.8 in the liver, kidney, and testicle, respectively, and an increase in antioxidant status in these tissues. Additionally, PPJE showed a strong ability to protect renal, hepatic, and testicular architectures against Cd exposure. This study revealed that PPJE protects against the toxic effects of Cd, possibly through its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.

Restoring Antioxidant Levels of Nicotine Injected Rats Using Suggested Dietary Formulas

“…Opuntia stricta juice extract increase SOD, GPx & CAT and decrease MDA levels significantly (p < 0.05) in male albino rat his study revealed that prickly pear juice extract protects against the toxic effects of Cd, possibly through its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities (Zhu and Athmouni, 2022). Also, these results agree with (Bardaa et al, 2020), (El-Beltagy et al, 2020) & (Elgazar et al, 2023).…”

Impact of different solvents on extraction yield, phenolic composition, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of deseeded Opuntia stricta fruit

“…Moreover, O. stricta extracts obtained from flowers and whole fruits or peels exhibited many pharmacological activities such as anti-spermatogenic, hypotensive, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic and anticancer [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. These beneficial medicinal features are as a result of their chemical contents of antioxidants, pigments, and phenolic acids [17,18].…”

Beneficial Effects of Opuntia spp. on Liver Health

“…Zhu X et al [ 39 ] analysed the effect of the phenolic extract isolated from Opuntia stricta cladode juice, from Tunisia, in cadmium- (Cd-)-induced hepatic damage. Therefore, Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: rats receiving just normal saline (G1); rats given cladode juice extract (250 mg/kg b.w./day) (G2); rats administered cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) (1 mg/kg b.w./day) (G3); and rats fed with CdCl 2 (1 mg/kg b.w./day) together with cladode juice extract (G4) for five weeks.…”