The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective and anti-inflammatory effect of lycopene against mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced hepatorenal injury and oxidative stress in rats. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three main equal groups. Group I (control): rats administered distilled water. Group II (mercuric chloride exposed group): rats received 1/20th of LD50 of mercuric chloride orally (2 mg/kg b. wt./day) over a period of 4 weeks. Group III (HgCl2+lycopene treated group): rats received mercuric chloride (2 mg/kg b. wt.) and treated with lycopene at a dose of (20 mg/kg b. wt./orally) for 4 weeks. Obtained results showed significant increase in serum ALT, AST and ALP activities, urea and creatinine concentrations and liver tissue MDA level in HgCl2 exposed rats. However, a significant decrease in liver tissue GSH concentration with down-regulation in hemoxygenase 1 (HO-1) gene expression and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 gene in kidney tissue were observed in HgCl2 intoxicated group. Moreover, the qPCR results of kidney tissue revealed a significant up-regulation of mRNA gene expressions levels of TNF-α, NF-kβ, Bax and p53 in HgCl2 exposed rats when compared with control group. Administration of lycopene with HgCl2 exposed rats caused significant improvement of all previous parameters towards its normal ranges. Various histopathological alterations were detected in kidneys and liver of rats treated with HgCl2. Interestingly, rats treated with lycopene plus HgCl2 showed marked reduction in these pathological alterations in comparison to HgCl2 intoxicated rats. These results suggested that the potential ameliorating role of lycopene as potent cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic against HgCl2 induced hepatorenal damage |
