Abstract
The study assessed the attenuating effect of citrus flavonone, naringenin, and its nanoformulation against cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Nile tilapia (
). Nanoparticles of naringenin (NNn) were synthesized; size 165.1 nm (PDI 0.396) in variable shapes; cluster widespread, spherical accumulated, and tubular bacillary. Parallel, mature male Nile tilapia (
= 120 fish) were used for the exposure study. Group I was negative control. The groups II, III, and IV were exposed to 5 ppm of cadmium chloride monohydrate (CdCl
·H
O) for 21 days. Group III was treated with bulk naringenin (BNn) (3 ppm) and group IV was treated with NNn (3 ppm). Group V was exposed only to NNn (3 ppm). Cd-induced oxidative stress was evident from a significant increase in the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and modulation of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney. A significant increase in the hepatic metallothionein and HSP70 levels in the gills was observed. Treatment with both BNn and NNn significantly (
≤ 0.05) reversed the Cd-induced alterations. However, the protective effect of nano naringenin was more profound on the bioaccumulation of Cd in liver and levels of HSP70 in the gills. These key findings could add to the commercial exploitation of naringenin and its nanosized form as a dietary therapeutic molecule.
Effect of naringenin and its nanoparticles on Cd-induced toxicity in Nile tilapia.