Pistacia chinensis: a potent ameliorator of CCl₄ induced lung and thyroid toxicity in rat model

Abstract

In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract of Pistacia chinensis bark (PCEB) was investigated in rats against CCl4 induced lung and thyroid injuries. PCEB dose dependently inhibited the rise of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite, and protein content and restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes, that is, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and quinone reductase in both lung and thyroid tissues of CCl4 treated rats. Decrease in number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and hemoglobin and T3 and T4 content as well as increase in monocytes, eosinophils, and lymphocytes count with CCl4 were restored to normal level with PCEB treatment. Histological study of CCl4 treated rats showed various lung injuries like rupture of alveolar walls and bronchioles, aggregation of fibroblasts, and disorganized Clara cells. Similarly, histology of CCl4 treated thyroid tissues displayed damaged thyroid follicles, hypertrophy, and colloidal depletion. However, PCEB exhibited protective behaviour for lungs and thyroid, with improved histological structure in a dose dependant manner. Presence of three known phenolic compounds, that is, rutin, tannin, and gallic acid, and three unknown compounds was verified in thin layer chromatographic assessment of PCEB. In conclusion, P. chinensis exhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.

Figure 1

Preventive effect of PCEB on serum (a) protein, (b) albumin, and (c) globulin; mean ± SD (n = 6). Means with different letters (a–d) indicate significance at P < 0.05; I: control; II: CCl₄ 1 mL/kg b.w.; III: CCl₄+Silymarin; IV: CCl₄+PCEB 200 mg/kg b.w.; V: CCl₄+PCEB 400 mg/kg b.w.; VI: PCEB 400 mg/kg b.w.; VII: vehicle control.

Figure 2

Microphotograph of rat lungs (H & E stain). (a) Control group; (b) CCl₄ group; (c) Silymarin+CCl₄ group; (d) PCEB (200 mg/kg b.w.) + CCl₄ group; (e) PCEB (400 mg/kg b.w.) + CCl₄ group; (f) PCEB (400 mg/kg b.w.); (g) vehicle control group. TB: terminal bronchiole; CC: Clara cells; AS: alveolar septum; AM: alveolar macrophages; A: arteriole.

Figure 3

Protective effect of PCEB on thyroid hormones: (a) T₃ and (b) T₄; mean ± SD (n = 6). Means with different letters (a–d) indicate significance at P < 0.05, I: control; II: CCl₄ 1 mL/kg b.w.; III: CCl₄+Silymarin; IV: CCl₄+PCEB 200 mg/kg b.w.; V: CCl₄+PCEB 400 mg/kg b.w.; VI: PCEB 400 mg/kg b.w.; VII: vehicle control.

Figure 4

Microphotograph of rat thyroid (H & E stain) at 40x. (a) Representative section of thyroid from the control group showing normal histology with normal shaped follicles cells containing follicles; (b) CCl₄ group; (c) Silymarin+CCl₄ group; (d) PCEB (200 mg/kg b.w.) + CCl₄ group; (e) PCEB (400 mg/kg b.w.) + CCl₄ group; (f) Only PCEB; (g) vehicle control group. C: Colloid; FC: follicular cells.