Alhagi maurorum Ethanolic Extract Rescues Hepato-Neurotoxicity and Neurobehavioral Alterations Induced by Lead in Rats via Abrogating Oxidative Stress and the Caspase-3-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway

Abstract

This work investigated the probable protective effect of an <i>Alhagi maurorum</i> ethanolic extract on the hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity accompanied by neurobehavioral deficits caused by lead in rats. Rats in four groups were orally administered distilled water, ethanolic extract of <i>A. maurorum</i> (300 mg/kg BW daily), lead (100 mg/kg BW daily for 3 months), and lead + <i>A. maurorum</i> extract. The results demonstrated that lead exposure resulted in elevated locomotor activities and sensorimotor deficits associated with a decrease in brain dopamine levels. Moreover, lead exposure significantly increased liver function markers. In addition, the lead-treated rats exhibited extensive liver and brain histological changes and apoptosis. The lead treatment also triggered oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations with a remarkable reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and transcriptional mRNA levels of antioxidant genes in the liver and brain. Nevertheless, co-treatment with the <i>A. maurorum</i> extract significantly ameliorated the lead-induced toxic effects. These findings indicate that the <i>A. maurorum</i> extract has the ability to protect hepatic and brain tissues against lead exposure in rats through the attenuation of apoptosis and oxidative stress.