Antioxidant and Tissue-Protective Studies on Ajwa Extract: Dates from Al-Madinah Al-Monwarah, Saudia Arabia

Abstract

The objective was to study the in-vivo protective effect of Al-Madinah Ajwa (name of the most famous date in Al-Madinah Al-Monwarah City) extract against lead acetate toxicity on the tissues of vital organs. Four rabbit groups were used as an animal model for this study. Ajwa extract treated group (300 mg/kg/day, for 14 days) were evaluated for lead acetate (500 ppm in drinking water for 14 days) intoxication compared to lead acetate alone-intoxicated group; Ajwa extract group and control group. This was done by assessment of liver and kidney functions, blood lead levels, levels of oxidants-antioxidants and histopathological changes in liver, kidney, heart and lung in different groups. The lead acetate intoxicated group showed significant elevation of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), serum creatinine-urea (Cr-U), lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), and depression of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels as compared to control. The Agwa extract showed tissue protective effect by significant restoration of (SGPT), (SGOT), (ALP), (TB), (Cr-U) (LPO), (PCC), (SOD) and (GPX) levels compared to the previous group. The histopathological evaluation showed marked vascular congestion, interstitial hemorrhage, cellular degeneration and necrosis in different organs of lead acetate intoxicated group, while Agwa extract treated group showed mild congestion and slight focal cellular degeneration. Therefore, outcome of the present study validates the ameliorative and protective effects of Al-Madinah Ajwa dates against the toxic effects of lead acetate poisoning.