Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Birth Defects Res. 2023 Aug 1;115(13):1192-1207. doi: 10.1002/bdr2.2217. Epub 2023 Jul 4.
Silymarin is an antioxidant without side effects even at relatively high physiological dosage. Therefore, it is safely used as a herbal medicine for treating different diseases.
The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) in pregnant rats and their fetuses and the ameliorative effects of silymarin (SL) against this toxicity.
MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 24 pregnant rats allocated into four equal groups. Control, silymarin (200 mg/kg), Cd (5 mg/kg), and a combination of Cd and silymarin concurrent from 6 to 20th gestational day. Number of corpora lutea, dams', gravid uteri, placental weights, and likewise fetal body weights and lengths were analyzed as physical parameters. Serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and maternal and fetal liver tissues for malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione activity were studied. The histology of hepatic and renal tissues for both mothers and fetuses was examined. Data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance test and Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare group means.
The findings evidenced that Cd causes teratogenic abnormalities and histopathological variation in hepatic and renal tissues of both mothers and fetuses. Cd triggers oxidative stress and disrupts liver and kidney function. In Cd + silymarin treated rats exhibited improvement in the pregnancy outcomes, reduced histopathological changes, oxidative stress as well as liver and kidney enzymes.
We deduced that using of silymarin during gestation is effective and ameliorate the toxic maternal complications caused by cadmium.
水飞蓟素是一种抗氧化剂，即使在相对较高的生理剂量下也没有副作用。因此，它被安全地用作治疗各种疾病的草药。
本研究旨在研究镉（Cd）对怀孕大鼠及其胎儿的毒性，以及水飞蓟素（SL）对这种毒性的改善作用。
将 24 只怀孕大鼠分为四组，每组 6 只。对照组、水飞蓟素（200mg/kg）组、Cd（5mg/kg）组和 Cd 与水飞蓟素同时从第 6 至 20 天给药组。分析黄体数、母体、妊娠子宫、胎盘重量以及胎儿体重和长度等物理参数。检测血清中天冬氨酸转氨酶、丙氨酸转氨酶、肌酐、尿素、尿酸以及母体和胎儿肝脏组织中丙二醛、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽活性。检查母体和胎儿肝、肾组织的组织学变化。数据采用方差分析进行统计分析，组间均值比较采用邓肯氏多重范围检验。
研究结果表明，Cd 导致母体和胎儿肝、肾组织出现致畸异常和组织病理学变化。Cd 引发氧化应激，破坏肝脏和肾脏功能。在 Cd+水飞蓟素治疗组，妊娠结局得到改善，组织病理学变化、氧化应激以及肝、肾酶减少。
我们推断，在妊娠期间使用水飞蓟素可有效改善由镉引起的母体毒性并发症。
