Effects of quercetin on cadmium-induced toxicity in rat urine using metabonomics techniques

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the protective effects of quercetin on the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) using metabonomics techniques. Sixty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups ( n = 10): control group (C), low-dose quercetin-treated group (Q1; 10 mg/kg bw/day), high-dose quercetin-treated group (Q2; 50 mg/kg bw/day), Cd-treated group (D; 4.89 mg/kg bw/day), low-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated group (DQ1) and high-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated group (DQ2). The rats continuously received quercetin and Cd via gavage and drinking water for 12 weeks, respectively. The rat urine samples were collected for metabonomics analysis. Finally, 10 metabolites were identified via the metabonomics profiles of the rat urine samples. Compared with the control group, the intensities of taurine, phosphocreatine, l-carnitine and uric acid were significantly decreased ( p < 0.01) and those of LysoPC (18: 2 (9Z, 12Z)), guanidinosuccinic acid, dopamine, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2(2′-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman and allantoic acid were significantly increased ( p < 0.01) in the Cd-treated group. However, the intensities of the aforementioned metabolites had restorative changes in the high-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated groups unlike those in Cd-treated group ( p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Results indicated that quercetin exerts protective effects on Cd-induced toxicity by regulating energy and lipid metabolism, enhancing the antioxidant defence system and protecting liver and kidney function and so on.

Integration of LC-MS-Based and GC-MS-Based Metabolic Profiling to Reveal the Effects of Domestication and Boiling on the Composition of Duck Egg Yolks

“…A previous study of the protective effect of quercetin against cadmium toxicity found that the concentration of lysopc(18:2(9z,12z)) in the cadmium-treated group increased. Additionally, its intensity in the high-dose quercetin plus a cadmium-treated group showed a reversible change compared with the cadmium-treated group, which suggested its protective effect against cadmium toxicity by regulating lysopc(18:2(9Z, 12Z)) [ 43 ]. The methanol extract (DBME) suppressed intracellular ROS formation and downregulated LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2, and TNF expression, which suggested its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent.…”

Quercetin prevents cadmium chloride‐induced hepatic steatosis and fibrosis by downregulating the transcription of miR‐21

“…41 Also, the protective effect of QUR against CdCl 2 induced liver, heart, and renal damage has been previously described and attributed to scavenging ROS, chelating of transition metals (i.e., Fe 2+ and Cu 2+ ), and upregulation of GSH and other antioxidant enzymes including SOD and catalase (CAT). 39,40 Also, QUR prevented hepatic inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis in mice and rats with NAFLD by suppressing hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation, ROS generation, the activation of NF-κB, the expression of TGF-β1/smad3/collagen I/III, and SREBP1a and improving SOD and CAT expression. [33][34][35][36]58,59 Despite these effects, the precise regulatory mechanism(s) underlying these pathological processes exerted by CdCl 2 and the protective pathways afforded by QUR still not clear.…”

“…Interestingly, Nrf2 also decreased in the livers of CdCl 2 -treated rats of this study which supports other previous reports. 40 In fact, with limited explanation, previous studies have shown that Nrf2 is an independent factor that inhibits hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrosis by suppressing SREBP1/2 and TGF-β1 signaling and concomitant activation of PPARα. [66][67][68] Therefrom, it could be possible that Nrf2 is the central key player mediating the activation or F I G U R E 9 A graphical abstract demonstrating the possible mechanisms by which cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) induces and quercetin (QUR) prevents CdCl2-induced hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.…”

“…Also, the protective effect of QUR was demonstrated against Cd ions-induced hepatic, renal, and cardiac damage. 36,[38][39][40] Using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Krishnakumar et al 41 have shown the ability of QUR to reduce CdCl2-induced hepatic lipid vacuoles and collagen deposition. Interestingly, recent reports have also shown that QUR ameliorated liver fibrosis in the bile duct ligation (BDL) rat model by suppressing miR-21.…”