Protective effects of Delonix regia and gum Arabic against aluminum chloride-induced toxicity in male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background and aim: Aluminum (AL) is commonly found in food, drinking, air, and soil and it can be a serious contaminant in varying amounts. Therefore, this study investigated the biochemical and histological hazardous reactions to aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and the efficiency of the methanol extract of Delonix regia aerial parts with gum Arabic (GA) as anti-toxic therapies to return to a natural state after AlCl₃ exposure.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. (i) CG: Served as a control group. (ii) AlCl₃: Rats were exposed to 80 mg/kg/body weight (BW) AlCl₃. (iii) AlCl₃ + D. regia/GA: rats were administered AlCl₃ + 100 mg/kg B.W. with 15% BW of D. regia and GA, respectively. (iv) D. regia/GA: Rats were administered 100 mg/kg B.W. with 15% BW D. regia and GA, respectively. The experimental treatment was administered for 30 days. On the 30^th day, blood biochemical parameters were assessed, and specimens from the liver and kidney were collected and stored in a neutral buffer with 10% formalin until immediate histopathological examination after euthanasia.

Results: This study revealed a significant increase in white blood cells and platelets after AlCl₃ exposure compared with CG, while there was a decrease in red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume. Treatment with D. regia/GA improved lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Furthermore, the animals exposed to AlCl₃ showed a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase compared with CG, whereas AlCl₃ + D. regia/GA treatment improved these activities. In addition, the rats exposed to AlCl₃ had significantly increased glucose, lipase, amylase, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels, and D. regia/GA treatment significantly improved these levels compared with AlCl₃. This study reported no significant differences in Ca and Na concentrations among groups, but rats exposed to AlCl₃ had elevated K, Cl, and Mg levels, whereas D. regia/GA treatment improved these levels.

Conclusion: The co-administration of the methanolic extract of D. regia with GA can protect against AlCl₃ toxicity.

Keywords: Delonix regia; Wistar Rats; aluminum; gum Arabic; toxicity.

Figure-1

(a) Growth of Delonix regia trees. (b) D. regia leaves, (c) D. regia flowers, (d) D. regia young green legumes. (e) Acacia Senegal tree and (f) Gum Arabic.

Figure-2

Photomicrograph of a section in the liver of a control rat showing a normal hepatic lobule with a central vein (cv). Note that hepatocytes are radiate from central vein as hepatic cords (*) separated from each other by blood sinusoids (arrows). Hematoxylin and eosin stain (400×).

Figure-3

Photomicrograph of a section of the liver of rats exposed to AlCl₃ showing necrotic foci (*). Hematoxylin and eosin stain (200×).

Figure-4

Photomicrograph of a section in the liver of rats exposed to AlCl₃ showing hemorrhage foci (*) associated with necrotic foci (arrows) Hematoxylin and eosin stain (400×). Inset: Masson trichrome stain (200×).

Figure-5

Photomicrograph of a section of the liver of rats exposed to AlCl₃ showing ballooning and vacuolization degenerative changes in hepatocytes (arrow). Hematoxylin and eosin stain (400×).

Figure-6

Photomicrograph of a section of the liver of rats exposed to AlCl₃ showing perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes (arrow) around the dilation of congested blood vessels (*). Hematoxylin and eosin stain (400×). Inset: mild fibrosis (*) around the blood vessel. Masson trichrome stain (400 ×).

Figure-7

Photomicrograph of a section in the liver of a Delonix regia/gum Arabic rat showing recovery with strong reaction (magenta). PAS stain. (a 200 ×, b 400 ×).

Figure-8

Photomicrograph of a section in the kidney of a control rat showing strong reaction (magenta), especially in the brush borders of the proximal convoluted tubules (arrows) and the basement membrane. PAS stain (400 ×).

Figure-9

Photomicrograph of a section in the kidney of rats exposed to AlCl₃ showing weak reaction (magenta) in brush borders of proximal convoluted tubules (arrows) and basal lamina. PAS stain (400×).

Figure-10

Photomicrograph of a section in the kidney of rats exposed to AlCl₃ + Delonix regia/Gum Arabic, showing improved renal structure and few hydropic changes. Hematoxylin and eosin stain (400×).

Figure-11

Photomicrograph of a section of the kidney from rats exposed to ALCl₃ showing dilation of blood capillaries (arrowheads) and edematous material infiltration around the blood vessel (*). Hematoxylin and eosin stain (1000×). Inset left: Masson trichrome stain (200×).

Figure-12

Photomicrograph of a section in the kidney of AlCl₃ + Delonix regia/Gum Arabic rat showing recovery with strong reaction (magenta), especially in brush borders of the proximal convoluted tubules (arrows) and basement membrane. PAS stain (400×).

Figure-13

Photomicrograph of a section in the kidney of a Delonix regia/gum Arabic rat showing normal with strong reaction (magenta), especially in the brush borders of the proximal convoluted tubules (arrows) and the basement membrane. PAS stain (400×).