الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 179 |  |  |
| | | from | 179 | | |
Abstract
Background: Exposure to environmental pollutants induced damage in immune system balance, which may be restored for homeostasis through immune modulators.Widely researches delineated that 7, 12-dimethylbenz (α) anthracene (DMBA) is a well-known imunosuppressor and used in rodent models to study the environmental toxicity and carcinogenic effects. Objective: The present study purposes to elucidate the ameliorative and protective influence of each of Artemisia annua (Art) and Echinacea pupurea (Ech) extracts against hepatotoxicity, cardio-toxicity and renal toxicity. Methods: 60 albino rats were divided into 6 groups (n=10) as the following: the 1st group: normal control group. The 2nd group: DMBA rats were administrated by a single orally dose of DMBA (10 mg/Kg.bw) on the first day of the experiment. The 3rd group: DMBA +Art and the 4th group: DMBA +Ech rats were administrated DMBA on the first day of the experiment then on the 15th day they were administrated with aqueous extract of Artemisia (400 mg/Kg.bw) for (3rd group) or Echinacea (200 mg/Kg.bw) for (4th group) daily for 14 successive days. The 5th group: (Art +DMBA) and the 6th group: (Ech + DMBA) rats were orally administrated on the first day with Artemisia for 5th group or Echinacea for 6th group daily till the 14th day then each rat was administrated a single orally dose of DMBA on the 15th day. Body weights documented daily for all groups as initial and final weight to measure the body weight gain percent (BWG ℅). Hematological, biochemical, histopathological, ultrastructural studies were studied. Results: Rats treated with DMBA only showed a remarkable decrease in body weight gain percent (BWG ℅), HB, WBCs, RBCs and platelet counts, a significant increase in ALT, AST, LDH, CK-MB, creatinine and urea. Also, DMBA induced histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in liver represented by severe degeneration of hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolization, pyknosis and karyorrhexes of some nuclei, congested central vein, and proliferated bile ductules, In addition to degenerated RER and highly damaged mitochondria with ill-defined cristae. The histopathological changes of heart revealed vacuolation, necrosis in cardiac myocytes, destroyed striations in muscle fibers, fragmented myofibrils, degenerated myofilaments, and abnormal aggregations of swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae. Kidney alterations showed shrinkage or complete degeneration of some glomeruli, severe degeneration of cortex renal tubular cells, numerous exfoliation in some nuclei with loss of brush border, severe degeneration and desquamation of distal tubules. Moreover, degeneration of podocytes with irregular nucleus, fused pedicels, irregular thickening of glomerular filteration membrane were seen. Proximal convoluted tubule showed distorted microvillia. Conversely, rats treated with Artemisia or Echinacea after DMBA showed little improvements in the (BWG ℅), biochemical, hematological, histopathological and ultrastructural studies. While, protected group with Artemisia or Echinacea before DMBA were preserved near to normal level of these parameters. Conclusion: Our study suggested the ameliorative effect of Artemisia or Echinacea against toxicity induced by DMBA in liver, heart and kidney due to their antioxidant properties. These effect was more effective if Ech and Art given before than after DMBA administration with a marked protective effect against DMBA toxicity with Ech before DMBA exposure.
Keywords: DMBA, Artemisia, Echinacea, Hepatotoxicity, Cardio-toxicity, Renal toxicity, Histopathology & Ultrastructure.