Role of garlic extract and silymarin compared to dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in treatment of lead induced nephropathy in adult male albino rats

Abstract

Lead poisoning has been known as an important disorder that affects individuals through acute, sub-acute and chronic exposure in environmental and occupational settings. This study was conducted to compare the curative role of garlic combined with silymarin versus dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in decreasing lead induced nephrotoxicity in adult male albino rats. The period of lead intoxication extended for 3 months followed by either 1 month treatment with garlic and silymarin or 5 days treatment with DMSA. Lead poisoning caused non-significant difference in kidney function tests (BUN and serum creatinine) while, it caused significant elevation in kidney lead level, significant decrease in renal antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and significant elevation in kidney malondialdehyde. Histologically, lead induced disorganization and shrinkage of glomeruli with sloughing and vaculation of epithelium, widening of Bowman's space and inflammatory infiltration in renal medulla. Treatment by garlic extract combined with silymarin as well as treatment with DMSA resulted in significant improvement in the affected parameters. Also, both methods of treatment resulted in improvement of the histopathological changes. It can be concluded that garlic extract combined to silymarin is comparable to DMSA in amelioration of lead induced nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: DMSA; DMSA (PubChem CID: 2724354); Garlic; Garlic (PubChem CID: 6850761); Kidney; Lead poisoning; Lead-acetate (PubChem CID: 19878658); Silymarin; Silymarin (PubChem CID: 1548994).

Fig. 1

GC–MS chromatograph of garlic extract.

Fig. 2

(A) A photomicrograph of a section in a control rat's kidney showing normal glomerulus surrounded by narrow Bowman's space (G), renal convoluted tubules lined with cuboidal epithelium (C). The proximal tubules have narrow lumina (N) while distal tubules show wide lumina (W) (H&E ×400). (B) A photomicrograph of a section in a control rat's kidney showing normal tubules lined with simple cuboidal epithelium (C) (H&E ×400).

Fig. 3

(A) A photomicrograph of a section in rat's kidney of the lead treated group (V) showing disorganization with sloughing of the epithelium of the glomeruli (E) and widening of Bowman's spaces (W) (H&E ×400). (B) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal cortex of a lead treated rat (group V) showing vaculation of the glomerular epithelium (V) with shrinked glomerulus (S) (H&E ×400). (C) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal cortex of a lead treated rat (group V) showing inflammatory infiltration (F) (H&E ×400).

Fig. 4

(A) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal cortex of lead, garlic and silymarin treated group (VI) showing shrinkage of one glomerulus with disappearance of Bowman's space (S) with appearance of normal glomeruli (G) and tubules (T) (H&E ×400). (B) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal cortex of lead, garlic and silymarin treated group (VI) showing normal tubules lined by simple cuboidal epithelium (C) with slight inflammatory infiltration (F) (H&E ×400).

Fig. 5

(A) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal cortex of lead and DMSA treated group (VII) showing normal glomerulus (G) with slight congestion and widening of Bowman's capsule of another glomerulus (W) and normal tubules (T) (H&E ×400). (B) A photomicrograph of a section in the renal medulla of Lead & DMSA treated group (VII) showing normal tubules with normal simple cuboidal epithelium (C) with minimal inflammatory infiltration (F) (H&E ×400).