Protective Effect of Gingo biloba Extract on Carbendazim-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Faiza A. Mahboub, Hawazen A. Lamfon

Department of Biology Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA.
Department of Biology Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA..

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2013.48113                

Abstract

Carbendazim is a broad spectrum carbamate fungicide used in the control of various fungal pathogens. The present work studied the effect of carbendazim on the liver of albino rats and the possible protective role of Ginko biloba extract (EGB). Liver of carbendazim-treated animals showed histopathological and histochemical alterations. The histopathological changes include hepatic tissue impairment, cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes, and congestion of blood vessels, leucocytic infiltrations and fatty infiltration. Histochemical results showed reduction of carbohydrates and total proteins in hepatic tissues. Moreover, liver function enzymes (ALT, AST) were elevated in sera of carbendazim-treated animals. Coadministration of EGB with Carbendazim improved the hisological and histochemical changes observed in animals treated with carbendazim. In addition, EGB treatment leads to a significant decrease in ALT and AST. According to the present results, it is concluded that EGB can improve the hepatotoxicity of carbendazim and this effect may be attributed to antioxidant properties of Ginko biloba extract.

Keywords

Carbendazim; Ginko biloba; Hepatotoxicity; Histochemistry; Rats

1. Introduction

Fungicides are used to protect seeds, fruits and vegetables during storage or are applied directly to ornamental plants, trees, field crops, cereals and turf grasses. On the other hand, fungicides are frequently used around the home constitute a major hazard to pets and livestock due to accidents, carelessness, or deliberate misuse. Because mechanisms of action and metabolic clearance differ among fungicides, specific reproductive, teratogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic effects or patterns of organ toxicity may manifest according to the poison ingested [1]. It was reported that fungicides caused systemic poisoning in animals such as sheep [2], poultry [3], and humans [4].

Carbendazim (methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate), is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide that plays a very important role in plant disease control. It is also used as a preservative in paint, papermaking and in the leather industry and further used as a preservative of fruits [5]. However, long-term exposure to carbendazim resulted in the decreased survival rate, body weight, and hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in adrenal, thyroid, liver, and testis [6,7]. It can disrupt the development of sperm and damage testicular development in rats [8]. Muthuviveganandavel et al. [9] reported that carbendazim induced biochemical and histopathological alterations in liver of rats.

Medicinal plants play an important role in pharmacology and medicine for hundreds years. Leaves of the plant Ginko biloba have been used for thousands of years as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine [10]. Ginkgo trees are now widely planted in China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany and the United States for both ornamental and medicinal purposes. G. biloba extract is believed to provide beneficial effects in memory impairment, stroke, edema, inflammation, Alzheimer’s dementia, and vasooclusive disorders [11]. A standardized chemical product (761, EGB) from these leaves was pharmacologically prepared containing two major functional constituents (24% - 25% flavonoid glycosides and 6% terpenoids) [12]. This extract was found to have many pharmacological proposes. It has neuroprotective, anticancer, cardioprotective, stress alleviating, memory enhancing effects and possible effects on tinnitus and psychiatric disorders [13-15]. The therapeutic mechanisms of action of Ginkgo leaf extract are suggested to be through its antioxidant, antiplatelet, antihypoxic, antiedemic, hemorrheologic and microcirculatory actions, where the flavonoid and terpenoid constituents may act in a complementary manner [16,17].

Harputluoglu et al. 2006 [18] reported that EGB ameliorated thioacetamide induced hepatic failure through its free radical scavenging effect. Sener et al. 2006 [19] studied the possible protective effects of EGB extract against oxidative damage induced by irradiation in lung, liver, kidney and ileum of rats. The authors concluded that pretreatment of EGB attenuated irradiation-induced oxidative organ damage injury through its free radical scavenging and antioxidative properties. They suggested that Gb extract may have a potential benefit in enhancing success of radiotherapy. Sener et al. 2005 [20] assessed the antioxidant and antifibrotic effects of long-term G.biloba extract administration on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) and scission in Wistar male albino rats. Recently, Al-Attar, 2012 [21] reported that G. biloba leaves extract inhibits liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in mice. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of G. biloba leaves extract on hepatotoxicity of carbendazim in albino rats.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Animals and Treatments

Sexually mature male albino rats (Rattus norvigicus) with initial body weight 140 ± 5 g were used. Animals were housed in metal cages (4 rats/cage) and kept in the laboratory under constant conditions of temperature (24˚C ± 2˚C) for at least one week before and throughout the experimental work. They provided with rodent pellet and water was available ad libitium. Animals were divided into four groups:

Group 1: These animals (10 rats) served as controls and were given corn oil additionally to their food.

Group 2: Animals of this group (25 rats) have been orally given 0.1 ml of water contains Ginkgo biloba extract at a dose level of 40 mg/kg body weight for 3 days weekly for 8 weeks [22]. Ginkgo biloba extract used as Tanakan 761 (EGB) produced by Amriya for Pharmaceutical Industries, Egypt under license of Beaufouripsen International, Paris-France.

Group 3: Animal of his group (25 rats) has been orally given 0.1 ml of corn oil comprising 100 mg/kg body weight carbendazim for 3 days weekly for 8 weeks [23].

Group 4: Animals of this group (30 rats) have been orally given carbendazim (100 mg/kg body weight), followed by Ginkgo biloba extract (50 mg/kg) for 3 days weekly for 8 weeks.

2.2. Tissue Processing for Histological and Histochemical Studies

Immediately after decapitation, liver were quickly removed and fixed in alcoholic Bouin’s fluid then dehydrated in an ascending series of alcohol, cleared in two changes of xylene and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections of 5 micrometers thickness were cut using rotary microtome and mounted on clean slides. For histological examination sections were stained with Ehrlich’s haematoxylin and eosin. For histochemical study specimens were fixed in Carnoy’s fluid. Periodic acid Schiff’s reaction [24] was used for demonstration of polysaccharides. Total proteins were detected using the mercury bromophenol blue method [25].

2.3. Biochemical Assays

For enzymes determination, blood samples were collected from animals after 4 weeks of treatment. Sera were obtained by centrifugation of the blood sample and stored at −20˚C until assayed for the biochemical parameters. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured colorimetrically according to [26].

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean values ± SD and statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA to assess significant differences among treatment groups. The criterion for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical version 16 software package (SPSS^® 4 Inc., USA).

3. Results

3.1. Change in Body Weight

Data in Table 1 revealed that treating animals with carbendazim caused significant decrease in body weight. On the other hand, rats co-administered with G. biloba showed an increase in their body. The percentage differences from controls were −20.7 and −9 in carbendazim and carbendazim + G. biloba, respectively.

3.2. Histological Effect

Liver sections of control rats or rats given G. biloba extract showed normal histological structure (Figure 1(a)).

Table 1. Change in body weight in different animal group.

Examination of liver of rats treated with carbendazim displayed many histopathological alterations. After four weeks from the beginning of the administration of the fungicide, the liver tissue showed disruption of normal cords arrangements of the hepatocytes and the intrahepatic blood vessels were congested (Figure 1(a)). Infiltrations by large mass of leucocytic infilammatory

Figure 1. (a) Section of liver of a control rat showing central vein (CV), sinusoids (S) and Kupffer cells (K); (b) Section of liver of carbendazim-treated rat showing congested and enlarged central vein (CG); (c) Showing mass of leucocytic infiltrations (L), (×400).

cells were observed (Figure 1(c)). The histopathological changes of the liver were more pronounced in the treated rats after 8 weeks where the hepatic cells appeared with severe cytoplasmic vacuolization (Figure 2(a)). Fatty infiltrations of different sized fat droplets was recorded

Figure 2. (a) Liver section of carbendazim-treated rat showing cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes (arrow); (b) Specimen obtained from treated rat showing fat droplets (arrows) of different sizes (c) Specimen obtained from a rat treated with carbendazim and G. biloba showing an obvious degree of improvement with few leucocytic infiltrations, (×400).

(Figure 2(b)). Animals treated with carbendazim and G. biloba extract for 4 weeks revealed that some hepato cytes showed fat droplets Examination of liver sections after 8 weeks revealed that liver tissue restored its normal structure and most cells displayed a certain degree of recovery besides the appearance of few leucocytic infiltrations (Figure 2(c)).

3.3. Histochemical Observations

Total carbohydrates appeared in the liver cells of control animals as red or magenta colour with Schiff's reagent and is not uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, but occurred concentrated at one pole of the cells; this is termed glycogen flight (Figure 3(A)). The

Figure 3. (A) Liver section of a control rat showing distribution of carbohydrates in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes; (B) Noticeable decrease of carbohydrates in the hepatocytes of a rat treated with carbendazim; (C) An increase of carbohydrates in the hepatocytes of a rat treated with carbendazim and G. biloba (×400).

nuclei appeared entirely PAS-negative indicating absolute lack of glycogen. Examination of sections obtained from liver of animals treated with carbendazim exhibited diminution in their carbohydrates content (Figure 3(B)). An increase in total carbohydrates was observed in hepatocytes of animals given carbendazim and G. biloba extract (Figure 3(C)).

Total proteins contents of the liver cells of control rats are positively reflected by the appearance of blue color after staining with bromophenol blue. Generally, the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes contains excessive amount of total proteins in the form of fine granules (Figure 4(A)). In addition, both chromatin bodies and nucleoli exhibiting are deep coloration. Kupffer cells and endothelial lining

Figure 4. (A) Normal protein content in the liver of a control rat; (B) Marked reduction of proteins following treatment with carbendazim; (C) An increase in protein content in hepatocytes of rat treated with carbendazim and G. biloba (×400).

cells of sinusoids give moderate reactivity with bromophenol blue. Also, the walls of blood vessels exhibited strong stainability. Treating animals with carbendazim caused noticeable reduction in the total protein contents in the liver cells (Figure 4(B)). Liver cells of rats treated with carbendazim and G. biloba extract contained a somewhat normal content of total protein (Figure 4(C)).

3.4. Biochemical Results

Figure 5 showed that there was an elevation in ALT in the sera of rats treated with carbendazim in comparison with control after 8 weeks. The mean values were 38.2 ± 2.6 and 62.5 ± 3.1 mg/dl in controls and carbendazim group, respectively. Treating animals with carbendazim and G. biloba induced significant decrease in ALT (45.3 ± 2.2) when compared with animals in carbendazim group. AST exhibited a significant increase with mean value 98 ± 3.5 after treatment with carbendazim. When animals treated with carbendazim and G. biloba, ALT became significantly decreased (81 ± 2.7 mg/dl) in comparison with animals given carbendazim (Figure 5). No significant change was recorded in values of ALT and AST between animals given G. biloba and their controls.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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