The present study was conducted to investigate the protective role of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against lead acetate-induced toxicity in liver and kidney of female rats. Animals were divided into four equal groups; group 1 served as control while groups 2 and 3 were treated orally with Omega-3 fatty acids at doses of 125 and 260 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 10 days. These groups were also injected with lead acetate (25 mg/kg body weight) during the last 5 days. Group 4 was treated only with lead acetate for 5 days and served as positive control group. Lead acetate increased oxidative stress through an elevation in MDA associated with depletion in antioxidant enzymes activities in the tissues. Moreover, the elevation of serum enzymes activities (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH) and the levels of urea and creatinine were estimated but total proteins were decreased. Also, lead acetate-treatment induced hyperlipidemia via increasing of lipid profiles associated with decline in HDL-c level. Significant changes of Hb, PCV, RBCs, PLT, and WBCs in group 4 were recorded. The biochemical alterations of lead acetate were confirmed by histopathological changes and DNA damage. The administration of Omega-3 provided significant protection against lead acetate toxicity.

Alhagi maurorum (camel thorn plant) is a promising medicinal plant due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds as major contents of its constituents. No previous study has been conducted before on A. maurorum extracts as an antioxidative stress and/or antidiabetic herb in STZ-induced DM in rats. Therefore, four groups of rats were allocated as control (C), STZ-induced DM (D), and STZ-induced DM supplemented with 300 mg/kg BW of either aqueous extract (WE) or ethanolic extract (EE) of A. maurorum. The plasma levels of glucose, TG, TC, LDL-C and VLDL-C, MDA, and bilirubin and the activities of transaminases and GR were significantly increased in the diabetic group. Also, diabetic rats showed severe glucose intolerance and histopathological changes in their livers. In addition, levels of insulin, total proteins, GSH, and HDL-C and the activities of SOD, GPx, and GST were significantly decreased in the diabetic rats compared to those of the control group. The ingestion of A. maurorum extracts lowered the blood glucose levels during the OGTT compared to the diabetic rats and restored all tested parameters to their normal levels with the exception of insulin level that could not be restored. It is concluded that A. maurorum extracts decreased elevated blood glucose levels and hyperlipidemia and suppressed oxidative stress caused by diabetes mellitus in rats.

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The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the toxicity of various pesticides. Our study was designed to investigate the induction of oxidative stress by cypermethrin; a Type II pyrethroid in rat liver and kidney. In addition, the protective role of sesame oil against the toxicity of cypermethrin was investigated. Animals were divided into four equal groups; the first group used as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with sesame oil (5 mL/kg b.w), cypermethrin (12 mg/kg b.w) and the combination of both sesame oil (5 mL/kg b.w) plus cypermethrin (12 mg/kg b.w), respectively. Rats were daily administered with their respective doses for 30 days by gavage. Repeated oral administration of cypermethrin was found to reduce the level of glutathione (GSH) and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. While, the level of TBARS was elevated indicating the presence of oxidative stress. The activities of LDH, AST and ALT were decreased in the liver extract while increased in the plasma of the cypermethrin-treated group. Also, the levels of urea and creatinine were significantly increased after treatment with cypermethrin. Liver and kidney injury was confirmed by the histological changes. In conclusion, the administration of sesame oil provided significant protection against cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress, biochemical changes, histopathological damage and genomic DNA fragmentation.

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