Biochemical and molecular studies on the possible influence of the Brassica oleracea and Beta vulgaris extracts to mitigate the effect of food preservatives and food chemical colorants on albino rats

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the biochemical influence of broccoli and beet extracts on selected individual additives NaNO2 or sunset yellow treated rats, in addition to the gene expression of some antioxidant enzymes. Forty-two male rats were assigned to seven groups of six rats in each group. The control group was fed a diet without an additive for four weeks. Group (2) received NaNO2, groups (3) received NaNO2 co-administered with broccoli extract (4) NaNO2 co-administered with beet extracts, Group (5) received sunset yellow, Group (6) received sunset yellow co-administered with broccoli extract, and Group (7) received sunset yellow co-administered with beet extract, for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood, liver, kidney, and brain samples were taken for biochemical and/or molecular analysis. The mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes was determined by reversing transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The obtained results revealed that rats co-administered with beet or broccoli extracts had a significant decrease in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea, total lipids, and triglycerides, as well as a significant increase in reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities, compared to the normal control group. Oral administration of NaNO2 or sunset yellow caused a significant increase in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea, total lipids, and triglycerides, as well as a significant decrease in GSH, GSH-px, and SOD compared to the positive group. In conclusion, this study showed that broccoli and beet extracts have a protective effect against NaNO2 or sunset yellow in rat treated groups.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Beet; Broccoli; Gene expression; Sodium nitrite; Sunset yellow.

Figure 1

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on ALT and AST serum enzymes activities indicative of liver function of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 2

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on ALP serum enzymes activities indicative of liver function of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 3

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on kidney function indices of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 4

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on serum total lipids levels of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 5

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on serum total cholesterol levels of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 6

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on serum triglycerides levels of rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 7

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on MDA levels of rat liver, kidney and brain tissues treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 8

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on GSH of rat liver, kidney and brain tissues treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 9

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on SOD of rat liver, kidney and brain tissues treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 10

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on GSH-px of rat liver, kidney and brain tissues treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. (a) significant versus control; (b) significant versus NaNO₂ control; and (c) significant versus sunset yellow control.

Figure 11

Effect of treatment with broccoli or beet extracts on Tumor markers rats treated with sunset yellow or sodium nitrite. Data are expressed as mean ± SE.

Figure 12

Gel electrophoresis of the RT-PCR product of SOD and GSH-px genes in liver, kidney and brain tissues treated with various treatments (A) GSH-px-Liver; (B) GSH-px kidney; (C) GSH-px-brain; (D) SOD-liver; (E) SOD-kidney; and (F) SOD-brain.