التأثيرات التحسينية المحتملة للبروكلي ضد التغيرات البيوكيميائية والإجهاد التأكسدي الكبدي الكلوي الناجم عن التسمم بالرصاص في الفئران البالغة

Abstract

Lead is one of the top ten most dangerous substances for public health. Oxidative stress is an implicated mechanism in lead toxicity. The antioxidant activities of broccoli floret have been extensively confirmed. This study was conducted to evaluate the potentially ameliorative effects of broccoli powder (BP) against lead-hepatorenal toxicity. Thirty adult male albino rats were randomly assigned into five groups of six rats each: G1: negative control, fed on the basal diet (BD); G2: positive control, received lead acetate PbA (25 mg/kg BW) daily and was fed on BD; and G (3-5), received PbA and were fed BD containing (3.0, 6.0 and 9.0%) BP, respectively. At the end of the experiment (8 weeks), the rats were slaughtered, blood was drawn, and the liver and kidney were excised and processed for the biochemical and oxidative stress markers assays. Administration of PbA caused significant biochemical alterations that involved increased serum, liver, and kidney lead concentrations; dyslipidemia; and hepatic and renal dysfunction. Oxidative stress biomarkers in liver and kidney tissues of PbA-treated rats showed a significant (P≤0.05) drop in the levels of both non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase); and a marked elevation of lipid peroxidation (malonaldehyde) content. Feeding lead-intoxicated rats on BP diets showed significant amelioration in the aforementioned biochemical parameters and oxidant/antioxidant status by recovering the values toward their normal rate. The ameliorative effect was concentration-dependent and increased by increasing BP concentration, which may be attributed to its antioxidant activity. In conclusion, BP is a promising natural source for preventing and mitigating lead toxicity. Further investigations may be needed to identify the exact mechanism of action.