Protective Effect of Lycium Barbarum extract on Lipopolysaccharides and/or Gamma- Irradiation – Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Rats

Authors

  • Asmaa A. Salem Regional Center for Food and Feed (RCFF), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
  • Mamdouh M. T. Eassawy Regional Center for Food and Feed (RCFF), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
  • Amel F. M. Ismail Drug Radiation Research Department, Biotechnology Division, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Keywords:

Lycium barbarum extract, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), gamma-irradiation, hematology, hepatorenal toxicity, TLR4; MyD88, rats

Abstract

In this investigation, the protective effect of Lycium barbarum extract (LBE) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and/or gamma-irradiation (IRR) – induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats was evaluated. Rats intoxicated with LPS or IRR showed alterations in activities of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT, as well as levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, albumin, and total protein content, hematological indices, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), and inflammatory markers (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukins (IL-1β, IL- 2, IL-6), Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level). Also, upregulation of the gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear-factor - kappa B p65 subunit (NF-κB p65), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in the liver and kidney tissues were observed. The level of calcium was raised in the hepatic and renal tissues of LPS, and IRR intoxicated groups. However, the combined treatment (LPS/IRR) enhanced the examined oxidative stress, and inflammation in liver and kidney tissues. LBE administration demonstrated regulation of the observed oxidative stress and inflammation induced in the hepatic and renal tissues of LPS, IRR and LPS/IRR intoxicated rats. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that LBE has protective effects by preserving the liver and kidney tissues from the oxidative stress and the inflammation that triggered by LPS, IRR and their combined toxicity, which is mediated by regulation of calcium level and COX-2/PGE2/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

Published

05.03.2023