الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 138 |  |  |
| | | from | 138 | | |
Abstract
Naringenin is one of promising fields for research belongs to the family of flavonoids found primarily in citrus fruits, cocoa, and tomatoes. The heavy metal lead is toxic and triggers oxidative stress, which causes toxicity in many organs. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of naringenin against lead-induced toxicity in rats. Four groups of ten male albino rats were included: group 1 was a control, group 2 was orally treated with lead acetate (LA) at a dose of 500 mg/kg BW, group 3 was treated with naringenin (NRG) at a dose of 50 mg/kg BW, and group 4 was treated with 500 mg/kg LA and 50 mg/kg NRG for 4 weeks. Then, blood was taken, the rats were euthanized, and liver, brain, kidney and spleen tissues were collected. LA-intoxication resulted in normocytic normochromic anemia along with leukocytosis and lymphocytosis. Furthermore, LA administration significantly elevated the serum activity of the liver enzymes, total, and indirect bilirubin as well as total cholesterol, triglycerides, low and very low density lipoprotein levels, meanwhile serum total protein, and albumin/globulin ratio levels were significantly reduced. Also, kidney function markers (creatinine, urea and uric acid) were significantly increases. Meanwhile in dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and serum creatine kinase were markedly decreased. The hepatic and brain MDA was markedly elevated with a concomitant decline in the hepatic antioxidant biomarkers and severe alterations in the hepatic and brain tissue architecture in LA-intoxicated rats. Additionally, LA-induced significant upregulation of hepatic and brain NF-κβ and caspase-3, and significant downregulation of hepatic and brain expression of BCL-2 and IL-10. Interestingly, NRG improved the LA-induced hemato-biochemical, and histopathological alterations, as well as ameliorated the oxidative stress, the apoptotic and inflammatory responses. In conclusion, NRG hepato, nephro and neuroprotective effects against LA might be mediated by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.