Abstract
In this study, we determine the curative effects of okra pods (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) extract against lead acetate toxicity in mice kidney. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvent were used for extracting okra pods. The role of the extract as an antioxidant was tested by DPPH and FRAP methods. The methanol extract was used for experiments in animals. A total of 30 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six equal groups: normal control, negative control (lead-induced), and treatment groups (lead-induced for 28 days and administration of methanol extract at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW for the 28 days). The following were analyzed in all groups: activity of the antioxidant enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); oxidant level, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO); and markers of kidney injury, namely, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cre). Kidney histopathology was also evaluated. This study showed that the methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 is 35.21 µg/mL, and FRAP is 57.58 µM Fe2+/g). The CAT and SOD activities increased significantly in okra-treated groups (P < 0.05). The okra administration groups experienced a significant decrease in MDA, NO, BUN, and Cre levels (P < 0.05). Thickness of the epithelial proximal tubule, diameter of the proximal tubule, and percentage of necrotic cells in proximal tubule decreased, but the diameter ratio of glomerular Bowman's capsule in mice treated with okra was optimally improved and repaired like normal control (P < 0.05). The results of this study reveal that methanol extract has a very strong antioxidant effect and can reduce the influence of toxicity induced by lead acetate in mice kidney.
Highlights
Lead is a ubiquitous environmental toxin that has been detected in almost all phases of biological systems [1]
Colors of DPPH would be changed from purple to yellow when the free radicals are scavenged by antioxidants. e methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity with an inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) value of about 35.21 μg/mL, while ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract showed the lowest antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 181.09 and 104.06 μg/mL. e ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay can rank the reducing power and the antioxidant potential. e highest ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ was found in the methanol extract (57.58 μM Fe2+/g)
It means that methanol extract has stronger reducing power than n-hexane extract (57.13 μM Fe2+/g) and ethyl acetate extract (49.64 μM Fe2+/g)
Summary
Lead is a ubiquitous environmental toxin that has been detected in almost all phases of biological systems [1]. Some researchers believe that lead in the water and pipeline systems results in lead poisoning [2, 3]. E kidney is one of the targeted sites of Pb-toxicity for being a major route of excretion from the body and facilitates kidney damage via oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (LP). Acute lead poisoning (blood lead levels > 80–100 μg/dL) disrupts both proximal tubular structure and function [4]. Lead may play a major role in generating oxidative stress. Several studies have reported that lead has induced oxidative stress [5]. It is believed that lead generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the function of antioxidant enzymes; for example, it reduced glutathione (GSH) level
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