title: Ameliorative potential of stem bromelain on lead-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.
abstract: The present study investigates the protective efficacy of stem bromelain against lead-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats. There were six experimental groups; Group I was negative control, Group II was administered only 20 mg/kg of stem bromelain. Group III and V were orally exposed to 30 mg/kg/day and 60 mg/kg/day of lead acetate, respectively. Group IV and Group VI were exposed to both low and high dose of lead acetate, respectively, and treated with 20 mg/kg stem bromelain. The experimental period was 21 days. The end points evaluated were, lead accumulation in kidney, liver and spleen, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, serum malonaldehyde (MDA) cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Co-administration of stem bromelain with lead markedly reduced the lead accumulation in the kidney and spleen. The treatment of stem bromelain also reduced the serum MDA levels in the group exposed to lower dose of lead and serum triglyceride level in the group exposed to higher dose of lead. The lead-induced modulated levels of serum ALT and AST were also alleviated by bromelain treatment. Our key findings suggest a chelating potential of stem bromelain for combating lead toxicity and oxidative stress. Bromelain represents a novel approach to the treatment of metal toxicity and metabolic disorders with a limited therapeutic window.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, King Saud University , P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh-11495 , Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Wedad Refaiea
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Al-Otaibi
authors.forename: Promy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Virk
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elobeid
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001963:Bromelains / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D001963:Bromelains; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C091760:stem bromelain; C008261:lead acetate
keywords: Lead acetate; bromelain; hepatic damage; oxidative stress