الفهرس 
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Abstract
The liver is the largest internal organ and gland of human body. It has a weight of
1.4–1.6 kg in the adult, which represents about 2% of whole body weight. It has several
functions in the body such as metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins, production
of coagulation factor and albumin as well as storage of vitamins and glycogen. In addition,
it detoxifies xenobiotics and drugs, so it can expose to several diseases including toxicity.
Hepatotoxicity can be induced also by natural chemical agents (such as aflatoxin),
industrial agents, and heavy metals (such as lead, Pb). The lead is a toxic heavy metal with
a wide abundance in earth and it can be absorbed via the respiratory system, gastrointestinal
tracts, and rarely through the skin. After absorption, lead is distributed in the blood, bone,
and soft tissues while liver is its largest storehouse (33%). It can interact with the cellular
macromolecules causing proteins dysfunction, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and
oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a dynamic imbalance between free radicals [reactive
oxygen (ROS) or nitrogen (RNS) species] and antioxidants. This will induce hepatocyte
inflammation, proliferation, necrosis, loss of hepatic reticular fiber, fatty changes and mild
fibrosis.