Phytoremediation potential of Raphanus sativus L. for lead contaminated soil

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that employs the use of higher plants for the clean up contaminated environment. Phytoextraction, the use of plants to extract toxic metals from contaminated soils, has emerged as a cost-effective, environment-friendly clean up alternative. Pot culture experiments using radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was performed to investigate lead (Pb) phytotoxic effects on antioxidant enzymes and other early warning biomarkers of soil Pb exposure. The study included an assessment of heavy metal accumulation in root, shoot and leaf, effect of lead stress on growth parameter (root length, root and shoot dry weight), photosynthetic pigment content, bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Results demonstrated that efficient Pb uptake was observed by the roots in contaminated plants. Root growth was higher in control plants, as compared to the contaminated. Lead exposure also influenced biochemical and physiological parameters. Administration of excess of lead was followed by an increase of Pb accumulation in leaves, and associated symptoms of toxicity. Typical symptoms of Pb toxicity developed 30 days after the beginning of treatment. Chlorophyll concentration was decreased in response to heavy metal toxicity. Activity of anti-oxidative enzymes e.g. peroxidase and catalase were increased in response to oxidative stress. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for analysis of heavy metal in soil and plant samples. The results of this research showed that radish are hyperaccumulator plants that can concentrate heavy metals in their different parts, thus they can be used for remediation of polluted area. Study also showed that potential of metal accumulator plants for extraction of metal from soil occur up to a certain level of concentration, after that when the concentration of metal increased the phytoextraction rate of metal or bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) were decreased

Protective effect of Haloxylon salicornicum on hepatic and renal functions of Wistar rats exposed to aluminium

Aluminium is present in some manufactured medicines and foods. It is known that aluminium causes oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of Haloxylon salicornicum extract in modulating aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced oxidative stress in rats. Male rats (40 to 50 g) were divided into four groups of six animals each. The experimental protocol was based on the administration of AlCl3 (30 mg/kg/body weight) intraperitoneally (ip) every 5 days for 15 days. The groups treated with the plant receive daily dose of 0.05 g/kg/body weight. Increased level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, and creatinine in serum indicated hepatic and renal dysfunction. The variation of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were assessed. These parameters indicated the extent of oxidative damage in liver and kidney, thus confirming the histology results in liver and kidney. It was found that the consumption of H. salicornicum extract protects the liver and kidney against aluminium chloride toxicity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of the H. salicornicum extract on the damages caused by administration of aluminium chloride (AlCl3) in young rats.Keywords: Aluminum chloride, Wistar rats, Haloxylon salicornicum, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione, catalas

Ameliorative or corrective effects of Fig “Ficus carica” extract on nickel-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

peer reviewedMany heavy metals and metalloids (e.g., Pb, Cd, and Ni) can contaminate the environment and cause severe health problems. Through this study, investigated the possible corrective effects of Ficus carica extract (FCE) against nickel (Ni) induced stress response and damage on the liver of rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (8 rats per group) and co-treated with FCE (350 mg/kg) and exposed to Nickel chloride (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The volatile compounds of FCE were characterized by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with GC–MS, and the biochemical parameters of stress were determined. The SPME–GC/MS analysis of FCE indicated the presence of thirty (30) phyto-bioactive compounds including alcohols, aldehydes, organic acids, ketones, furans, terpenes, ester and others. The best capacity for scavenging DPPH free radicals and metal chelating were found with the IC50 values of 0.49 and 2.91 mg/mL, respectively. Ni induced damage to various macromolecules. Malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferarse levels were significantly increased in Ni exposed group compared to control group and co-treatment with FCE reduced the levels of these parameters. In conclusion, current findings showed that Ni-induced oxidative damage and the administration of FCE can improve correct and restore the alteration in the rat liver

Lead Toxicity and The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis

Environmental exposure to toxic levels of lead (Pb) occurs in a number of industries with potential adverse effects on the reproductive capacity of exposed men. Clinical and animal studies indicate that abnormalities of spermatogenesis result from toxic lead exposure, but eventual histopathologic alterations involved have not been identified. To explore putative abnormalities in the reproductive gonadotropic axis following lead intoxication, experimental animals when exposed to low levels of lead, 65 days old animals were treated with distilled water containing 0, 0 mg (control), 10 mg lead (Pb)/Kg/day and 15 mg lead (Pb)/Kg/day intraperitoneally for 20 days. At the end of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the blood collected for luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone assays. The testis was processed for histological analysis. The results showed a high serum concentration of LH and testosterone in lead-treated animals compared to controls. Histological examination of testis showed deformities in testicular morphology of lead intoxicated animals with gross damage within the somniferous tubules. A strong correlation was established between LH and testosterone suggesting an alteration in the endocrine components of the gonadotropic axis. Histological examination of pituitary gland showed some degenerative changes in endocrine cells of lead group. Changes in LH and testosterone levels suggest that Pb exposure during the critical time of sexual differentiation induces reproductive axis abnormalities in adulthood. In conclusion, lead has a gonadotoxic effect by decreasing LH and testosterone levels and damaging the testis seminiferous tubules. Catalase activity was significantly reduced in the lead group following 65 days of exposure which possibly indicates that lead might had other mechanisms of action, such as increasing oxidative damage

Beneficial Effect Administration of Vitamin C in Amelioration of Lead Hepatotoxicity

Previous human and experimental studies have demonstrated that lead exposure may modify the metabolism of lipid. Oxidative stress with subsequent lipid peroxidation has been postulated as one mechanism for lead toxicity. The protective action of vitamins C against lead affects lipid hydroperoxide level and liver functions in male rats has been studied. Experiments were performed on male waster rats with body weights of 120-160 g. Male wistar rats were exposed to 3 g/l lead acetate in drinking water for 5 weeks and treated thereafter with vitamin C (500 mg/kg, orally) for 28 days. One day after the feeding was over, venous blood samples, under chloroform anesthesia, were collected. The animals were killed by exsanguinations and the liver was excise for determination the metal content and histopathological changes. Similarly, the tissue lipid (lipid peroxidation) and the enzyme fraction (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and glutathione (GSH) were also measured in the liver. Metal content in blood and liver was determined by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Administration of lead acetate (3 g/l) in drinking water for 5 weeks induced a significant increase in the levels of hepatic ALP, ACP and lipid peroxidation. Lead acetate exposure also produced detrimental effects on the redox status of the liver indicated by a significant decline in the levels of liver antioxidants such SOD, CAT and GSH. Further, there was a significant increase in the levels of lead in blood and liver of animals exposed to lead. However, oral administration of vitamin C at dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight reduced the alterations in the previous parameters. Histological examination of the liver also revealed pathophysiological changes in lead acetate-exposed group and treatment with vitamin C improved liver histology. The result of this study strongly indicate that vitamin C has got a potent antioxidant action against lead acetate induced hepatic damage in rats

The protective effect of vitamin E against genotoxicity of lead acetate intraperitoneal administration in male rat

Lead is an industrial pollutant that may exert specific toxic effects on male mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate further the protective effects of vitamin E on lead acetate (Pb)-induced reproductive toxicities and genotoxic effects on male rats. Sexually mature male Wistar rats (weighing 120-160 g) were given Pb (20 mg/Kg) and vitamin E (600 mg/kg/rat) orally for 20 days. The sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, chromosomal aberrations, FSH, LH and testosterone levels, and histopathological changes in the testes of the rats were investigated after 20 days. Results revealed a statistically significant (p<0.01) increase in the number of abnormal sperm in treated animals. Lead acetate increased the percentage of chromosomal abnormalities. A significant decrease in LH, FSH and testosterone were observed in the treated group compared to the control. Pathological examination of testicular tissues showed degenerative changes of spermatogonia and spermatocytes to advanced degeneration and vacuolation. Lead acetate can be considered to have an environmental genotoxic and cytotoxic effect in the male rat and may contribute to a reduction of fertility. Vitamin E administration could reduce the genotoxic effect of lead in somatic and germ cells

Ameliorated Effects of Green Tea Extract on Lead Induced Kidney Toxicity in Rats

In the present study, the protective effect of an aqueous extract of green tea (GTE) against renal oxidative damage induced by lead was undertaken. Adult males rats were divided into 4 groups: Control group receives distilled water as sole drinking source. GTE group received green tea extract (6.6% w/v).Pb group received Pb at dose of 0.4 % w/v in distilled water. Pb + GTE group received mixture of Pb and GTE as sole drinking source. Renal oxidative damage was observed in Pb-treated rats as evidenced via augmentation in kidney lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as depletion in kidney antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Histopathological analysis revealed degeneration in the endothelium of glomerular tuft and the epithelium of lining tubules. In conclusion, GTE appeared to be beneficial to rats, to a great extent by attenuating and restoring the damage sustained by lead exposure

Etude phytochimique et activité antioxydante de l’extrait aqueux de Pimpinella anisum L.

L’étude expérimentale a été réalisée sur l’extrait aqueux lyophilisé des graines d’anis vert. La composition chimique de l’extrait a été analysé par la chromatographie liquide à haute performance et spectroscopie infra Rouge à transformée de Fourier. Les résultats de cette étude montre que l’extrait aqueux renferme une certaine quantité de polyphénols (2,38±0,01 mg équivalent d’acide gallique /g de poids sec de la plante), flavonoïdes (8,06 ± 0,08 mg équivalent de Quercétine / g de poids sec de la plante) et tannins (0,40±0,004 mg équivalent d’acide gallique / g de poids sec de la plante) avec l’absence d’autres groupes de composés bioactifs tel que les saponins et les stéroïdes. L’anéthole reste le composé majoritaire dans l’extrait aqueux obtenu à partir des graines d’anis vert. L’extrait de cette plante possède un pouvoir antioxydant moyen en comparaison avec les antioxydants de référence