The role of antioxidant properties of celery against lead acetate induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in irradiated rats

Abstract EN

Furthermore the combined action of radiation with various chemicals is an inevitable feature of modern life.

Radiation is known to cause cell death, mainly due to its ability to produce reactive oxygen species in cells.

Lead is a serious public health problem in many parts of the world.

As in the case of many chronic degenerative diseases, increased production of reactive oxygen species has been considered to play an important role, even in the pathogenesis of chronic lead toxicity.

Celery is closely linked to its protective prope rties against free radicals attack.

Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Celery juice (CJ) against the hazardous effect of lead acetate (1 mg/kg/day, i.p.

for four weeks) and/ or whole body gamma irradiation at 4Gy.

Results showed that combined treatment of lead acetate and ?-radiation caused an elevation in liver TBARS and protein carbonyl content (PCC) associated with a reduction in activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH).

It also increased serum enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma - glutamyl transpeptidase (?-GT) as well as serum bilirubin.

While serum total protein (TP) and albumin (Alb) were decreased.

CJ administration improved the significant increase in TBARS, PCC and ameliorated serum liver enzymes as well as improved the decreased level of GSH content, CAT and SOD activities.

It also could normalize serum billrubin, total protein and albumin.

It is concluded that CJ has a protective effect against lead acetate and gamma-irradiation induced hepatotoxicity through antagonizing the free radicals generation beside enhancement of the antioxidant defense mechanisms.