ABSTRACT
Cadmium (Cd) is a well - known environmental toxin that is naturally present in air, water and soil. The reproductive system is most vulnerable to oxidative damage and therefore most affected by Cd. Zinc (Zn) is an essential antioxidant and a chelating agent that is capable of protecting the testis from Cd induced toxicity. Apium graveolens commonly known as Celery is a herbal plant rich in antioxidants and it improves various sperm parameters. MethodsMale Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. Control received 0.5 % Carboxy-Methyl Cellulose (CMC) in distilled water; the experimental groups namely Cd received 10 mg / Kg body weight of CdCl2; Cd + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2; Cd + AG 200 received 10 mg/Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 200 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens; Cd + AG400 received 10 mg/Kg body weight of CdCl2 + 400 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens; Cd + AG 200 + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 200 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2; Cd + AG 400 + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 400 mg/Kg body weight of Apium graveolens + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2 all in 0.5% CMC. Hydroalcoholic extract of Apium graveolens was used in this experiment. The experiment was conducted for a duration of 56 days. Histopathology, sperm analysis, lipid peroxidation and hormone assays were performed. The therapeutic potential of Apium graveolens at two doses (200 and 400 mg / Kg body weight) with and without Zn supplementation was evaluated in this experiment. ResultsRats treated with Cd showed severe testicular damages. Zn offered protection from the damages done by cadmium. The hydroalcoholic extract of Apium graveolens at doses of 200 mg / Kg body weight showed better protective effect than 400 mg / Kg body weight and the protecting nature was enhanced by zinc supplementation.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the protective efficacy of gossypin (3,3',4',5,7,8-hexahydroxyflavone 8-glucoside) by administering it intraperitoneally, for dose, time, and vehicle dependent effects against sulphur mustard (SM), administered through percutaneous route in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SM (diluted in PEG-300) was administered percutaneously. The protective efficacy of gossypin was evaluated by administering it intraperitoneally (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), in various vehicles (water, PEG-300 and DMSO), and time intervals (30 min prior, simultaneous and 2 h post). The time dependent protection of gossypin (200 mg/kg in PEG-300; i.p.) was also evaluated using selected biochemical variables (GSH, GSSG, MDA, total antioxidant status, Hb, WBC count, RBC count, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase) and liver histology. The protection of gossypin by oral route was also evaluated against percutaneously administered SM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protection against systemic toxicity of SM (LD50 8.1 mg/kg) was better when gossypin was given with PEG-300 (8.0 folds) than DMSO (5.7 folds). No protection was observed when gossypin was administered with water. Good protection (8.0 folds) was observed when gossypin was administered (200 mg/kg in PEG-300; i.p.) at 30 min prior or simultaneous to SM exposure, but no protection was observed when gossypin was administered 2 h post to SM exposure. A significant weight loss was observed 7 days after SM administration (2 LD50), with a significant increase in RBC and Hb. A significant decrease in total antioxidant status of plasma, liver GSH and GSSG levels, and in the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase was also observed 7 days after SM administration. SM treated mouse liver also showed necrosis. A significant protection was observed when gossypin (200 mg/kg in PEG-300; i.p.) was administered either as a pretreatment (30 min before) or simultaneous treatment, and not as a post treatment (2 h). The protective efficacy of gossypin was better through oral route when administered with DMSO (4.8 folds) than with PEG-300 (2.4 folds). No protection was observed when gossypin was administered orally with water.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and gossypin can protect it as a prophylactic agent by intraperitoneal or oral routes.</p>