Toxicity of mercury on the brain: ability of extract of Pistacia atlantica regulated effect

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of 150 mg / kg extract of the plant Pistacia atlantica against mercury-induced oxidative stress
 Methods: Hg was administered intraperitoneally (2,5 mg/kg body weight, one time a week), and P. atlantica and were given orally by gavage at a daily dose (150 mg/kg body weight) to rats for 32 days. 24 male adult Albinos Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group 1 Control, group 2 (HgCl2) group 3 (Hg + P. atlantica) and group 4 (P. atlantica). Paramatrical tests of oxidative stress and histological sections of the cerebral parenchyma. Results: Our results showed that the intraperitoneal injection of mercury chloride HgCl2 causes deleterious effects in the brain resulting in: a failure of redox status by disrupting the antioxidant defense system by a significant decrease in the activity of catalase glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase acetylcholinesterase and increase of the activity of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. The levels of lipid peroxidation markers were high in TBARS intoxicated rats with protein oxidation increased in the brain intoxicated by. The continuous use of mercury is also at the origin, in brain tissue However, supplementation of P. atlantica extract with mercury-treated rats attenuated some of the harmful and toxic effects of this metal. This clearly demonstrates the protective roles of this plant
 Keywords: mercury, Pistacia atlantica, Wistar rat, brain, antioxidant, neurotoxicity.