Protective Effect of Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) Extract against Cadmium Impact on the Biomechanical Properties of the Femur: A Study in a Rat Model of Low and Moderate Lifetime Women Exposure to This Heavy Metal

Abstract

The hypothesis that the consumption of Aronia melanocarpa berries (chokeberries) extract, recently reported by us to improve bone metabolism in female rats at low-level and moderate chronic exposure to cadmium (1 and 5 mg Cd/kg diet for up to 24 months), may increase the bone resistance to fracture was investigated. Biomechanical properties of the neck (bending test with vertical head loading) and diaphysis (three-point bending test) of the femur of rats administered 0.1% aqueous chokeberry extract (65.74% of polyphenols) or/and Cd in the diet (1 and 5 mg Cd/kg) for 3, 10, 17, and 24 months were evaluated. Moreover, procollagen I was assayed in the bone tissue. The low-level and moderate exposure to Cd decreased the procollagen I concentration in the bone tissue and weakened the biomechanical properties of the femoral neck and diaphysis. Chokeberry extract administration under the exposure to Cd improved the bone collagen biosynthesis and femur biomechanical properties. The results allow for the conclusion that the consumption of chokeberry products under exposure to Cd may improve the bone biomechanical properties and protect from fracture. This study provides support for Aronia melanocarpa berries being a promising natural agent for skeletal protection under low-level and moderate chronic exposure to Cd.

Review of polyphenol‐rich products as potential protective and therapeutic factors against cadmium hepatotoxicity

“…It seems that the influence of Aronia extract consumption on the status of Zn and Cu in the liver under low-level and moderate lifetime exposure to Cd was mediated by MT, and that the beneficial effect of the extract may be related to its ability to maintain the pool of MT-unbound Zn and Cu in this organ at the normal level (Borowska et al, 2017). Our investigation also demonstrated that Aronia berries offered protection against this toxic metal-induced oxidative stress and its consequences in the bone tissue (Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2015), as well as disturbances in bone metabolism and weakening of the biomechanical properties of long bones Brzóska et al, 2017). Furthermore, the consumption of the extract increased TAS and reduced the total oxidative status of the serum leading to a decrease in the level of oxidative stress evaluated based on the oxidative stress index (total oxidative status/TAS) .…”

“…are known from their beneficial impact on human health (Boncheva et al, 2013;Yamane et al, 2017 Boncheva et al (2013) has revealed that consumption of juice from chokeberries (200 mL daily for 60 days) improved liver function (estimated based on the serum activities of liver marker enzymes), carbohydrate metabolism and lipid parameters in the serum of people with NAFLD. Moreover, experimental investigations Kowalczyk et al, 2003), including mainly studies conducted by our research team (Borowska et al, 2017;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2015;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2016;Brzóska et al, 2017;Mężyńska et al, 2016, unpublished data), indicate that Aronia products may offer protection against various unfavorable effects of exposure to Cd, such as its accumulation in the body and development of oxidative stress, as well as damage to the skeleton and liver, and disorders in the metabolism of Zn and Cu.…”

“…melanocarpa in the protection against the detrimental effects of Cd have been conducted by our research team (Borowska et al, 2017;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2015;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2016;Brzóska et al, 2017;Mężyńska et al, 2016, unpublished data). We have investigated the influence of an aqueous 0.1% chokeberry extract in a female rat model of low-level (1 mg/kg diet) and moderate (5 mg/kg diet) chronic (up to 24 months) exposure to Cd reflecting the lifetime general population exposure to this xenobiotic in industrialized and developing countries.…”

“…Therefore, the growing interest of the WHO, nutritionists and toxicologists, is taken in recognizing effective ways of prevention against the main health effects of exposure to this metal (Brzóska, Borowska, & Tomczyk, 2016;Mężyńska & Brzóska, 2018;WHO, 2010b). Taking into account the available literature data, including the results of our own investigations Brzóska, Borowska, & Tomczyk, 2016;Brzóska, Rogalska, Roszczenko, Gałażyn-Sidorczuk, & Tomczyk, 2016;Brzóska, Roszczenko, Rogalska, Gałażyn-Sidorczuk, & Mężyńska, 2017;Mężyńska & Brzóska, 2018), which are presented and discussed in this review article, it seems possible that an important role in the protection from noxious consequences of exposure to Cd may be played by natural diet ingredients, including polyphenolic compounds.…”

“…According to their structure, molecular weight and hydroxylation patterns, polyphenols are divided into five major classes: phenolic acids, phenolic alcohols, flavonoids, stilbenes and lignans (Quideau et al, 2011 (Bingül et al, 2013;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2015;Brzóska, Borowska, & Tomczyk, 2016;Brzóska, Rogalska, et al, 2016;Brzóska et al, 2017;Winiarska-Mieczan, 2015;Choudhury et al, 2016;Kopeć, Sikora, Piątkowska, Borczak, & Czech, 2016;Pang et al, 2016;Borowska et al, 2017). Moreover, in reference to representatives of particular groups of polyphenols there is evidence of their hepatoprotective abilities (Casalino et al, 2002;Eybl et al, 2006;Kowalczyk et al, 2003;Pang et al, 2016;Pari & Shagirtha, 2012).…”