Allium cepa remediates oxidative stress-mediated hepatic DNA damage in cadmium-exposed rats through enhanced p53 expression and inhibition of bcl2

Ige, Serah Funke; Adeniyi, Mayowa Jeremiah; Ademilua, OB; Fatola, Oluwatobi Ayodeji; Adeyemi, IA

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Cadmium (Cd), a naturally occurring toxic metal, in addition to being cytotoxic, has been shown to be responsible for inducing free radical-dependent DNA damage in cells. Allium cepa is also known to ameliorate cadmium sulphate-induced organ toxicity through its antioxidant potential. The study was carried out to determine the ameliorative mechanisms of Allium cepa extract (ACE) in oxidative stressmediated hepatic DNA damage in rats exposed to cadmium sulphate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Twenty male adult wistar rats weighing 160-180g were used for this
study. They were divided into four groups; group one (control), group two (Cd group), group three (Cd + ACE group) and group four (ACE group). Rats were administered 15 mg/kg CdSO4 and Allium cepa Extract (1 ml/100 g BW) for 28 days once per day (p.o.). Body weight changes (BWC), organ/body weight (OBW) ratio, feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily water intake (DWI) and daily feed intake (DFI) were monitored. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) activities and % DNA fragmentations were examined spectrophotometrically while immunohistochemical expression of Tumor Suppressor protein (p53) and cytoplasmic Bcl2 were also studied. Results were analyzed using SPSS 21 via Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Exposure to CD caused no significant change in BWC, OBW, FCR, DWI and DFI, but significantly decreased SOD and CAT activities. Significantly increase in % DNA fragmentation and Bcl2 expression and inhibited p53 expression were also observed in CD exposed rats. Decreased SOD and CAT activities, increased DNA fragmentation and Bcl2 expression together with inhibition of p53 expression orchestrated by cadmium exposure were ameliorated by Allium cepa treatments.

CONCLUSION: Allium cepa remediates oxidative stress-mediated hepatic DNA damage by promoting P53
expression and inhibiting Bcl2 protein in rats exposed to cadmium sulphate.

Keywords: Allium cepa; DNA fragmentation; Bcl2; Tumor suppressor protein (p53); catalase; superoxide dismutase

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 25, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 12, 2025
• Journal: Int J Biomed Sci
• Print ISSN: 1306-1216
• Publisher: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 11-17
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13734971