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Hepatoprotective activity of Uncaria tomentosa extract against sub-chronic exposure to fipronil in male rats

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Abstract

The effects of fipronil (FPN) on the liver of rats were studied. Rats (n = 6) were treated with 9.7 mg/kg (1/10 of FPN LD50), and other rats (n = 6) received 120 mg/kg of 10% Uncaria tomentosa extract, while a mixture of 9.7 mg/kg FPN and 120 mg/kg of 10% Uncaria tomentosa extract were administered orally to the rats (n = 6) daily for 6 weeks. Body, hepatic weights, liver enzymes, and lipid profile were determined. Hepatic activities of MDA, TNO, TAC, TNF-α, and IL-6 in liver homogenate were measured. Immunohistochemistry of NF-kB and liver histopathology were performed. Fipronil-treated rats had a significant (P = 0.02) lower weight gain. Moreover, relative liver weight was significantly (P = 0.003) increased in FPN-treated rats. Rats administrated with FPN exhibited a significantly (P = 0.02) higher liver enzymes and promoted levels of MDA, TNO, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P < 0.0001) than that in the other groups. Immunostaining of NF-κB was increased (P < 0.0001) in FPN-treated rats. Interestingly, Uncaria tomentosa alone or with FPN decreased the liver immunostaining of NF-κB. In conclusion, FPN produced liver injury through lipid peroxidation and stimulation of NF-κB. However, Uncaria tomentosa combated the oxidative stress and liver damage induced by FPN via inhibition of NF-κB.

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Correspondence to Rania Abdelrahman Elgawish.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The procedures of this experiment were carried out under the approval (No. 2018063) and the guidelines of the committee of scientific research and biological ethics for animals used in laboratory experiments in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Elgawish, R.A., Abdelrazek, H.M.A., Ismail, S.A.A. et al. Hepatoprotective activity of Uncaria tomentosa extract against sub-chronic exposure to fipronil in male rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 199–207 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3615-5

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