Hepato-Renal protective Effects of Egyptian Purslane Extract against Experimental Cadmium Toxicity in Rats with Special Emphasis on the Functional and Histopathological Changes

Abstract

The study was designed to clarify the hapato-nephroprotective effects of purslane ethanolic extract (PEE) against cadmium toxicity. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal. Cd occurs as environmental and food/ feed contamination causing public and animals health hazards. Liver and kidney are the main target organs for acute and chronic cadmium toxicity. Portulaca oleracea is rich in several vitamins, minerals, antioxidant components, and omega-3 fatty acids mainly α-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Results showed significant elevation of the liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and lipid peroxidation. In contrast to the antioxidants enzymatic were greatly decreased. The hepatic and renal tissues showed severe degeneration and necrosis accompanied by severe congestion and multifocal hemorrhages in Cd intoxicated rats. All parameters and tissues showed no changes in rates-treated with both Cd and purslane extract as compared with the control rats. The administration of PEE provided a significantly protection against Cd-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Cadmium; Chemistry; Histopathology; Kidney; Liver; P. oleracea; Rat.

Graphical abstract

Plate 1

Photomicrograph for experimental design done on female Sprague-Dawley rats classified into 4 groups and the route of administration is intraperitoneal injection: Group (1) control, Group (2) Rats treated with P. oleracea ethanolic extract (2 mg/kg bw), Group (3) rats treated with CdCl₂ (3.5 mg/kg bw), Group (4) rats treated with (CdCl₂ 3.5 mg/kg bw + P. oleracea 2 mg/kg bw). All tissues pecimens were stained with H&E stain. Liver: Fig A: Control group (1) showed completely normal tissue details in liver X 100. Fig B: group (2) liver exhibited normal tissue characters without histopathological changes X 100. Fig C: Liver of group (3) showed severe congestion in the central veins of hepatic lobules accompanied with hemorrhages among the hepatic cords (black arrows). Mild multifocal infiltrations of inflammatory cells among several hemorrhagic areas (yellow arrows) were noticed X 200. Fig D: Liver of the fourth group exhibited recovery of the hemorrhagic and inflammatory condition and the hepatic tissue return to normal X 200. Kidney: Fig E: control group showed the normal renal tissue X 100. Fig F: group (2) kidney exhibited no histopathological changes than normal X 100. Fig G: Kidney of group (3) clarified severe congestion in most of the renal blood vessels associated with multifocal extravasation of blood among the proximal convoluted tubules and in the peri glomerular areas (black arrows). Also, severe atrophy in large numbers of the renal tubules in the peri vascular areas (yellow arrows) was observed X 200. Fig H: Kidney of group (4) the renal tissue became completely normal except presence of mild degeneration in the lining epithelium of proximal convoluted tubules (yellow arrows) X 200.