Protective Effect of Naringenin on Cadmium-induced Toxicity in Rat Liver

Abstract

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental toxic heavy metal. Naringin (Nar) is reported to have a protective effect on Cd-induced liver injury. This study aimed to explore the hepatic injury induced by Cd and the protective effects of Nar on Cd-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat liver. Methods: In accordance with groups, male SD rats were injected intraperitoneally with Cd and orally with Nar every day. The treatment period was 3 weeks. Body weight, the morphological changes in liver, the activity of antioxidant indices and expression of the apoptotic genes caspase-3 and -9 were assessed. Result: Results showed that the body weight of Cd-exposed rats decreased, the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in liver decreased, the glutathione content decreased and the malondialdehyde content increased. Further, Cd-induced hepatic structural damage and cell apoptosis were observed. However, Nar could alleviate liver damage caused by Cd. Therefore, Cd caused oxidative damage and cell apoptosis in rat liver, while Nar had preventive and ameliorative effects on these injuries.

Effects of naringenin on oxidative damage and apoptosis in liver and kidney in rats subjected to chronic mercury chloride

“…In this study, it was also noteworthy that mercury chloride‐induced apoptotic increase decreased with naringenin administration (Table 6, Figures 3 and 4). Wang et al 62 demonstrated the ameliorative effects on hepatic structural damage and cell apoptosis of naringenin used against cadmium‐induced liver toxicity. It was reported that naringin, the glycan of naringenin, had a decreasing effect on increased KIM‐1, Caspase‐3, TGF‐β, and TNF‐α levels in liver and kidney, decreased apoptosis and thus ameliorated renal and hepatic damage in arsenic‐treated rats 63 .…”