Biochemical, morphological and molecular assessments of n butanol fraction of Phoenix dactylifera L. following exposure to inorganic mercury on the liver of Wistar rats

Abstract

Background

Mercury chloride (HgCl ₂) damages tissues it comes in contact with in sufficient concentration. This study evaluated the protective effects of n-butanol fraction of Phoenix dactylifera (BFPD) on mercury-triggered liver toxicity in Wistar rats. 25 male rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Group I was administered 2 ml/kg of distilled water; group II was administered 5 mg/kg of HgCl ₂; group III was administered 500 mg/kg of BFPD + 5 mg/kg of HgCl ₂; group IV was administered 1000 mg/kg of BFPD + 5 mg/kg of HgCl ₂, while group V was administered 100 mg/kg of silymarin + 5 mg/kg of HgCl ₂. orally for 2 weeks. The rats were euthanized and liver tissue blood samples were collected for histological, histochemical, stereological, immunohistochemical, molecular, and biochemical studies.

Results

The results revealed that HgCl ₂ induced oxidative stress in the rats evident by histoarchitectural distortions and altered levels of liver enzymes, proteins, and oxidative stress biomarkers when compared to the control. However, BFPD treatment restored these changes. Glutathione peroxidase levels decreased ( p < 0.05) in the HgCl ₂₋treated group when compared to the control and BFPD-treated groups. HgCl ₂ group revealed reduced reactivity with histochemical and immunohistochemical stains (Masson’s Trichrome and B cell Lymphoma 2) when compared to the control, with a significant decrease in quantified liver Bcl-2 stain intensity when compared to the silymarin-treated group. BFPD administration revealed normal staining intensity comparable to the control. HgCl ₂ administration revealed a remarked decrease in the number of hepatocytes when compared to the control, BFPD, and silymarin groups. BFPD preserved ( p < 0.05) the stereological features when compared to the HgCl ₂-treated group. GPx activity in the liver decreased ( p < 0.05) with HgCl ₂ administration when compared to the control and silymarin-treated groups. BFPD attenuated GPx gene activity to levels similar to the control indicating some level of amelioration against HgCl ₂-induced toxicity.

Conclusions

The ability of BFPD to mitigate HgCl ₂ triggered liver alterations could be attributed to the antioxidant property of its flavonoid content. Therefore, BFPD may be a potential candidate for treating and managing liver-induced mercury intoxication.