Impact of Rute chalepensis Ethanol Extract in Ochratoxin Treated Male Rats: A Biochemical and Histopathological Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the ameliorating effects of Ruta chalepensis ethanol extract on some serum biochemical markers such as, alanine aminotransferase; ALT, aspartate aminotransferase; AST, urea and creatinine concentrations, and histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues of Ochratoxin treated male rats. Fifty adult male rats were randomly allocated in five equal groups. Male rats were daily administered, for 42 days, with drinking water (negative control; G1), whereas other groups were orally administered with single dose of Ochratoxin (1 mg/kg, bw). G2 was untreated and served as positive control, while G3, G4 and G5 groups were daily treated, for 42 days, with 200, 300 and 450 mg/kg bw, of Ruta chalepensis ethanol extract, respectively. Fasting blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture at the end of the experiment, for assessment of serum ALT, AST, urea, total protein, and creatinine concentrations. Samples from livers and kidneys were taken for histopathological examination. In spite of the deviations of serum ALT, AST, urea, creatinine and total protein concentrations due to deleterious effect of Ochratoxin (G2 group) compared with control (G1), treated of male rats with Ruta chalepensis ethanol extract (G3, G4, and G5) returned them to nearly normal range. These results were in compatible with the regenerating effect of Ruta chalepensis ethanol extract which have been seen in liver and kidney tissues, where they showed necrotic and degenerative changes due to Ochratoxin toxicity. In conclusion, Ruta chalepensis ethanol extract has an efficient role as antitoxin and/or antioxidant agent.