Abstract:
The present investigation was performed to evaluate the protective effect and the antioxidant
power of Thymelaea microphylla against cadmium chloride induced oxidative stress and renal
toxicity in Wistar rats. First, antioxidant and radical scavenging effect of Thymelaea
microphylla was evaluated in vitro with 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl
(OH) radicals assays. Then, Wistar rats were subjected to oral pretreatment with n-butanolic
extract of Thymelaea microphylla (BETM) (200 mg/kg) against the renal toxicity induced by
oral administration of cadmium chloride CdCl2 (5 mg/kg) for 28 days, vitamin E (250 mg/Kg)
was used similarly as standard. Efficiency of Thymelaea microphylla against the renal toxicity
was evaluated in terms of biochemical estimation of renal function parameters, antioxidant
enzymes activities, metallothionein levels and histopathological modifications. Thymelaea
microphylla anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by carrageenan (1%) induced rat paw
edema. Thymelaea microphylla revealed a high scavenging ability of DPPH and OH radicals.
Also, Thymelaea microphylla (200 mg/Kg) pretreatment prevented deteriorative effects caused
by cadmium chloride through a protective mechanism that included significant decrease in the
levels of Blood Urea Nitrogen, creatinine, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), potassium,
sodium, Myeloperoxidase, Nitric Oxide and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species as well as
by restoration of antioxidant enzymes in the cytosol, metallothionein levels and
histopathological changes induced by cadmium. Additionally, Thymelaea microphylla revealed
an important anti-inflammatory effect reducing carrageenan induced paw edema. This study
proved the antioxidant and protective effect of Thymelaea microphylla against cadmium
chloride induced oxidative stress and kidney injury.
