Objective: Benzene (BZ) is an important pollutant compound, present in both occupational and general environment that has been linked to adverse health effect. The aim of the current study was to investigate the curative and preventive effect of Atriplex halimus L. (Ah) extract against BZ-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods: A total of 30 male albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=6): Control, Ah, BZ, AhP+BZ, and BZ+AhC. BZ (100 mg/kg b.w) was added in their drinking water for 15 weeks. Ah (Aqueous Extract of aerial parts) was given by gavage during the past 30 days of BZ-exposed for curative treatment (AhC) and all the duration of BZ exposure in the animals for preventive treatment (AhP). Some biochemical, oxidative stress parameters, and histopathology of kidney tissue were studied. Results: Obtained results revealed that BZ exposure to rats caused a significant elevation in urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde levels. Then, it led to reducing the glutathione level, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase activities when compared to the control animals. Histopathological studies showed a massive damage in kidneys of the BZ-exposed rat. Our results showed that curative treatment of aqueous extract of Ah has a partial correction of the biochemical, oxidative stress parameters, and kidney morphology, but preventive treatment has a dramatic effect on the previous parameters. Conclusion: Results demonstrated the beneficial effects of Ah preventive treatment against stress oxidative and kidney damage induced by BZ.

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Objective: The present study was designed to estimate the preventive and curative potency of aqueous extract of Atriplex halimus L. (Ah) aerial parts against benzene (BZ) intoxication in liver rats. Methods: 30 male albino rats were divided into five groups of 6 rats each: Control, Ah, BZ, AhP+BZ, and BZ+AhC. BZ (100 mg/kg b.w) was added in drinking water for 15 weeks. Aqueous extract of Atriplex halimus was received intragastrically during the last 30 days of BZ exposure for curative treatment (AhC) and all the duration of BZ exposure for preventive treatment (AhP). At the end the experiment, body weight gain and relative liver weight were estimated and liver enzyme markers (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) were analysed by spectrophotometry. Histopathological studies on hepatic tissue were also performed by the method of Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. Results: Benzene administrated to rats caused an alteration in physiological parameters (body and organs weigh) and hepatic enzymes markers (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH). In addition, Histopathological studies showed a massive degeneration in liver tissue in BZ-exposed rats. However, treatment by Atriplex halimus especially preventive effect ameliorated most of the adverse effects induced by benzene. Ah restored the altered of physiological, biochemical and histopathological changes. Conclusion: The present study suggests that Atriplex halimus extract could be a substantially promising hepatoprotective agent against benzene toxic effects and may be against other hepatotoxic chemical or drugs. Keywords: Atriplex halimus, Benzene, hepatotoxicity, Rats.

Benzen (BZ) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with a toxic effect mainly aimed at the hematopoietic and immune systems. Atriplex halimus l. (Amaranthaceae) is a Mediterranean halophytic shrub traditionally used in North Africa as medicinal plant for several therapeutic uses. the present study aimed to estimate the preventive and curative effects of Atriplex halimus L. (Ah) aqueous extract against BZ-induced hematotoxicity in rats. Analysis of the extract by the method of lc-MS revealed the presence of 7 vitamins, among which vitamin C content was the highest. Adult rats were divided into five groups as follow: Group 1 received water (control); group 2 received orally Ah aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) 3 days/week for 15 weeks; group 3 received BZ (100 mg/kg b.w) daily in drinking water for 15 weeks; group 4 received concomitantly BZ (100 mg/ kg) and preventive treatment with Ah (200 mg/kg) for 15 weeks (AhP+BZ); Group 5 first received BZ (100 mg/ kg) for 11 weeks and then curative treatment with Ah extract (300 mg/kg) daily for 30 days (BZ+Ahc). It was shown that sub-chronic exposure to benzene induced leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, granulocytopenia and massive degeneration of the bone marrow tissue. The level of GSH and activity of GST and CAT were significantly lowered and the level of MDA was increased in the blood and bone marrow in rats of BZ-intoxicated group compared to the control rats. Administration of Ah extract recovered the bone marrow structure, dramatically decreased MDA content and increased gSh and cAt activity and gSt level in the blood and bone marrow as compared with the indices in BZ-treated group. these observations demonstrate that curative and, to a lesser extent, preventive treatment with Atriplex halimus extract have therapeutic potential against hematotoxicity induced by benzene.

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The current study was evaluated the chelating effect of Aquilaria malaccensis and Aristolochia longa against lead induced biochemical alterations and bioaccumulation of lead in tissues of rats. 25 adult female Wistar albino rats, equally divided into control and four treated groups, received either lead, lead + A. malaccensis, lead + A. longa and lead + A. malaccensis + A. longa  lead (100 mg/kg b.w) as Pb(C2H3O2)2 added in their drinking water for 75 days. A. malaccensis and A. longa (at a dose 1% of diet) were added to the feed during the last 15 days of lead exposed in the animals. Result showed that in lead-intoxicated rats, an increase of lead accumulation in serum, bone and liver of rats. Results also revealed that lead affected metabolic system by increasing blood glucose and serum urea concentrations and decreasing serum calcium concentration. Treatment with A. malaccensis and A. longa alone or combined significantly reduced the adverse effects related to most of serum and tissue lead accumulation and restored biochemical parameters alterations in animals treated with lead. The present study shows that A. malaccensis and A. longa are an effective chelating agents for the removal of lead and it has proved efficient in restoring both the biochemical alteration and toxicity after a sub lethal exposure of lead acetate in rats.