Effect of quercetin and curcumin in rats sub-acutely exposed to cadmium chloride: haemato-biochemical changes, oxidative stress parameters and histopathological changes in intestine, liver and kidney of rats

Abstract

Quercetin is a flavonoid mostly found in fruits and vegetables. Curcumin is the main natural polyphenol found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa and in others Curcuma spp.. Individually, quercetin and curcumin had shown to have various pharmacological properties. The increasing level of cadmium in the environment is alarming as cadmium affects the antioxidant defense system with ability to persist in the body for long time. The bioaccumulation of cadmium is well-known, which is dangerous for the health of human and animals after continuous exposure to it. The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the ameliorating effect of quercetin (50 mg/kg daily orally for 28 days) and curcumin (100 mg/kg daily orally for 28 days) alone and in combination of both against cadmium-induced (100 ppm in water for 28 days) alterations in biochemical markers and histological changes in intestine, liver and kidney of rats. Body weight gain in rats of toxicity group during the 4th week of study period was significantly affected by the cadmium. Cadmium exposure significantly increased the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin and glucose in serum along with higher level of MDA in intestine, liver and kidney of rats. The administration of quercetin and curcumin in combination as compared to individual treatment along with cadmium exposure had shown significantly lower levels of above parameters. Various histological changes were noticed in intestine, liver and kidney of rats following exposure to cadmium which were improved in rats treated with individual or combined treatment of quercetin and curcumin. Quercetin alone had shown the ameliorating effect against cadmium-induced alteration in kidney of rats. While, combination of quercetin and curcumin has been found to protect the intestine and liver from cadmium-induced damage following sub-acute exposure in rats. However, further study is needed to explore the mechanism of protective effect of the quercetin and curcumin against cadmiuminduced changes in intestine, liver and kidney.