Adefegha Stephen A, Omojokun Olasunkanmi S, Oboh Ganiyu
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001 Ondo State Nigeria.
Springerplus. 2015 Oct 16;4:619. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1408-6. eCollection 2015.
This study sought to investigate the effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA); a phenolic compound readily available in most plant foods on cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatoxicity in rats.
Thirty six adult male rats weighing about 150-160 g were acclimatized for 2 weeks and subsequently divided into six groups: Group 1 rats received normal saline (control group), group 2 rats were administered 5 mg Cd/kg body weight in form of solution orally (induced group), groups 3 and 4 received cadmium solution and different doses of PCA (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) respectively, while groups 5 and 6 were the normal rats administered different doses of PCA (10 and 20 mg/kg) respectively in an experiment that lasted for twenty one days. The animals were sacrificed, the blood was collected and the serum was subsequently prepared. Furthermore, the liver was excised, homogenized and centrifuged to obtain the tissue homogenate used for the analyses. The serum was used for the determination of the total protein, urea, creatinine and uric acid levels while the liver homogenate was used for the estimation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
The result revealed that total protein level was reduced in cadmium induced toxicity rat group which was elevated upon treatment with PCA. Conversely, the elevated levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine in cadmium induced toxicity kidney rats were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in PCA treated groups. Similarly, marked elevation in the ALT, AST and ALP activity were observed in cadmium induced toxicity rat group when compared with the control group. However, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALT, AST and ALP activity were noticed in groups administered different doses of PCA.
The results from this study suggest that PCA may protect against cadmium-induced toxicity in the kidney and liver.
本研究旨在探究原儿茶酸（PCA）的作用；PCA是一种在大多数植物性食物中都很容易获得的酚类化合物，研究其对镉诱导的大鼠肾毒性和肝毒性的影响。
36只体重约150 - 160克的成年雄性大鼠适应环境2周后，随后被分为六组：第1组大鼠接受生理盐水（对照组），第2组大鼠口服5毫克/千克体重的镉溶液（诱导组），第3组和第4组分别接受镉溶液和不同剂量的PCA（10和20毫克/千克体重），而第5组和第6组是在为期21天的实验中分别接受不同剂量PCA（10和20毫克/千克）的正常大鼠。处死动物，采集血液并随后制备血清。此外，切除肝脏，匀浆并离心以获得用于分析的组织匀浆。血清用于测定总蛋白、尿素、肌酐和尿酸水平，而肝脏匀浆用于评估丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）和碱性磷酸酶（ALP）。
结果显示，镉诱导毒性的大鼠组中总蛋白水平降低，而用PCA治疗后有所升高。相反，镉诱导毒性的肾大鼠中尿素、尿酸和肌酐水平升高，在PCA治疗组中显著（p < 0.05）降低。同样，与对照组相比，镉诱导毒性的大鼠组中ALT、AST和ALP活性明显升高。然而，在给予不同剂量PCA的组中，ALT、AST和ALP活性显著（p < 0.05）降低。
本研究结果表明，PCA可能对镉诱导的肾脏和肝脏毒性具有保护作用。
