title: The potential effect of berberine in mercury-induced hepatorenal toxicity in albino rats.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) is the third most dangerous heavy metal after arsenic and lead. Mercury's toxicity brings serious risks to health through negative pathological and biochemical effects. The study was designed to investigate the possible protective role of berberine (BN) in mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induced oxidative stress in hepatic and renal tissues. Adult male albino Wistar rats were exposed to mercuric chloride (HgCl2; 0.4 mg/kg bwt) for 7 days. Treatment with HgCl2 induced oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production along with a concomitant decrease in glutathione and various antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. HgCl2 intoxication increased the activities of liver enzymes and the bilirubin level, in addition to the levels of urea and creatinine in serum. BN (100mg/kg bwt) treatment inhibited lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production, whereas it increased glutathione content. Activities of antioxidants enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, were also restored concomitantly when compared to control after BN administration. BN also inhibited the apoptotic effect of HgCl2 by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 protein in liver and kidney. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney tissues proved the protective effect of BN against HgCl2 toxicity. These results demonstrated that BN augments antioxidant defense against HgCl2-induced toxicity and provides evidence that it has therapeutic potential as hepato- and reno-protective agent.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Science and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Science and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gehan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Safwat
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Science and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Menna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aboulkhair
authors.affiliation: Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Asturias Institute of Biotechnology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: abdelahmed.uo@uniovi.es.
authors.forename: Ahmed E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abdel Moneim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D020011:Protective Agents; D001599:Berberine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Apoptosis; Berberine; Kidney; Liver; Mercuric chloride; Oxidative stress