Echinacea purpurea root extract mitigates hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, and ultrastructural changes induced by hexavalent chromium via oxidative stress suppression.

Environmental and occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is mostly renowned as a possible hepatotoxic in mammals. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a phenolic-rich plant, is recurrently used for its therapeutic properties. Therefore, this investigation was done to explore whether E. purpurea (EP) root extract would have any potential health benefits against an acute dose of CrVI-induced oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity. Results revealed that GC-MS analysis of EP root extract has 26 identified components with a significant amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Twenty-four Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, EP (50 mg/kg BW/day for 21 days), CrVI (15 mg/kg BW as a single intraperitoneal dosage), and EP + CrVI, respectively. Rats treated with CrVI displayed a remarkable rise in oxidative stress markers (TBARS, H2O2, PCC), bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, and a marked decrease in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase activities, and serum protein level. Also, CrVI administration induced apoptosis and inflammation in addition to histological and ultrastructural abnormalities in the liver tissue. The examined parameters were improved significantly in rats pretreated with EP and then intoxicated with CrVI. Conclusively, EP had a potent antioxidant activity and could be used in the modulation of CrVI-induced hepatotoxicity.

Citrus reticulata peel extract mitigates oxidative stress and liver injury induced by abamectin in rats.

The prevalent use of abamectin (ABM) has latterly raised safety attention as it has different toxicities to non-target living organisms. Citrus fruits are widely renowned for their nutritional and health-promoting qualities, and their peels are full of phenolic constituents. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the modulatory effectiveness of Citrus reticulata peel extract (CPE) against abamectin-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative injury. Rats were distributed into 4 groups as follows: control, CPE (400 mg/kg bw orally for 14 days), ABM (2 mg/kg bw for 5 days), and CPE + ABM at the doses mentioned above. Results revealed that GC-MS analysis of CPE has 19 identified components with significant total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Treatment with ABM in rats displayed significant variations in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, oxidative stress markers (MDA, H2O2, PCC), liver and kidney function biomarkers, hematological parameters, lipids, and protein profile as well as histopathological abnormalities, inflammation and apoptosis (TNF-α, Caspase-3, NF-κB, and Bcl-2 genes) in rats' liver. Supplementation of CPE solo dramatically improved the antioxidant state and reduced oxidative stress. C. reticulata peel extract pretreatment alleviated ABM toxicity by modulating most of the tested parameters compared to the ABM group. Conclusively, CPE had potent antioxidant activity and could be used in the modulation of ABM hepatotoxicity presumably due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene-regulating capabilities.

Nephroprotective role of Echinacea purpurea against potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in rats.

Environmental and occupational exposure to chromium compounds, especially hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], is widely recognized as a potential nephrotoxic in humans and animals. Its toxicity is associated with the overproduction of free radicals, which induces oxidative damage. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is an herbaceous perennial plant rich in phenolic components and frequently used for its medicinal benefits. The current work evaluated the effectiveness of E. purpurea (EP) against oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity induced by potassium dichromate in male rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, E. purpurea (EP; 50 mg/kg; once daily for 3 weeks), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI); 15 mg/kg; single intraperitoneal dose), and EP + Cr(VI) where rats were pretreated with EP for 3 weeks before receiving CrVI, respectively. Results revealed that rats exposed to Cr(VI) showed a significant increase in PC, TBARS, and H2 O2 , kidney function biomarkers (Urea, creatinine, and uric acid), lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH), TNF-α, IL-18, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor-1) levels as well as a considerable decline in metallothionein (MT), glutathione (GSH) content, enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and protein content. Cr(VI) induced apoptosis in kidney tissues as revealed by upregulation of Bax and caspase 3 and downregulation of Bcl-2. Furthermore, EP treatment ameliorated the Cr(VI)-induced histopathological and ultrastructure variations of kidney tissue, which was confirmed by the biochemical and molecular data. It is clear from the results of this study that EP exerts nephroprotective effects by improving the redox state, suppressing inflammatory reaction and cell apoptosis as well as ameliorating the performance of kidney tissue architecture, which is eventually reflected by the improvement of kidney function in rats.