Ameliorative Effect of Green tea and Quercetin against Cadmium-Induced Hepato-Renal Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the presumptive ameliorative effect of Green tea (GT) and Quercetin (Q) against Cadmium (Cd) induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats. Sixty male albino rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10); control group: orally received distilled water, Cd-treated group: orally received CdCl2 (5 mg/kg b.wt./day, 3 times /week), GT-treated group: orally received GT extract (200 mg/kg b.wt./day 3 times / week), Q-treated group: orally received Q (50 mg/kg b.wt./day 3 times / week), Cd+GT and Cd+Q -treated groups received a combination of cadmium, green tea extract or quercetin at the same previous doses and routes. All the experimental procedures were continued for eight weeks. Intoxication with cadmium revealed a significant elevation in serum liver enzymes, total and direct bilirubin with a significant decrease in serum levels of total proteins and albumin. Also, there was a significant elevation in serum urea and creatinine levels. In addition to, the Cd exhibited severe oxidative stress that represented by a significant increase in renal and hepatic malondialdhyde (MDA) and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). Histopathologically, Cd revealed severe degenerative and necrotic lesions in the livers and kidneys. The mixed treatment with GT and Q- attenuated Cd-induced oxidative stress, serum biochemical alterations related to hepato-renal damge and histopathological changes in liver and kidney. However, the co-treatment with Q showed better protection than GT against Cd induced toxicity in rats. Keywords: Cadmium, green tea, quercetin, rats, hepato-renal toxicity.