- 1
- Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
- 2
- EA
2219 Géoarchitecture, Faculty of Sciences, University of Western
Brittany, 6 Avenue V. Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France.
- 3
- Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia.
- 4
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia.
Abstract
Lead
(Pb) is a highly toxic metal present in the environment. It causes
disturbances of several functions, including hematologic, renal,
reproductive and nervous ones. Preventive or curative use of medicinal plants
against these disorders may be a promising and safe therapeutic
strategy. This study evaluated the hepatic toxic effects of prenatal
exposure to lead in rats and the possible protective effect of dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale) added to the diet. Female rats were given a
normal diet (control) or a diet enriched with dandelion (treated). In
addition, lead acetate was administered to half of the rats through
drinking water from the 5th day of gestation until the 14th day
postpartum. Lead toxicity was evaluated in their offspring by measuring
body and liver weights, plasma biochemical parameters, liver damage, as
well as protein content and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the
liver tissues. Lead poisoning of mothers caused lead deposition in blood
and stomach of their pups as well as hepatic tissue damages. Moreover,
significant decreases in liver weight and protein content were found.
Lead treatment caused oxidative stress and marked changes in the
activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, no damages or biochemical
changes were observed in puppies from the rats co-treated with lead and
dandelion. These results indicate that supplementation of pregnant and
lactating rats with dandelion protects their offspring against lead
poisoning, likely through reduction of oxidative stress and liver
damages.
KEYWORDS:
Antioxidant enzymes; Lead poisoning; Liver; Neonate rats; Oxidative stress; Taraxacum officinale.
