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Hepatoprotective effects of astragalin against polystyrene microplastics induced hepatic damage in male albino rats by modulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway
Summary
Researchers investigated whether astragalin, a natural plant compound, could protect against liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. They found that microplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, but astragalin treatment restored antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced damage. The study suggests that natural compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects microplastics have on liver health.
The current study was designed to determine the curative potential of astragalin (AST) against polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) induced hepatic toxicity in rats. PS-MPs exposure decreased the expression of Nrf-2 and anti-oxidant enzymes, while increasing Keap-1 expression. The activities of glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and heme oxygenase-1 were decreased, besides the levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species were also increased following the exposure of PS-MPs. The intoxication of PS-MPs elevated aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase levels, as well as cyclooxygenase-2 activity, interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, nuclear factor-kappa B and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were also escalated. Furthermore, Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, while Bax and Caspase-3 expressions were upregulated following PS-MPs exposure. Histopathological assessment revealed substantial liver damages in PS-MPs treated rats. However, AST supplementation substantially recovered PS-MPs-induced damages and histological anomalies. Therefore, AST can be used as a curative agent to treat PS-MPs-prompted hepatotoxicity due to its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant potentials.