Abstract
Background and Objective:Oxidative injury is reflected as an early sign of cadmium (Cd) toxicity and has been linked with hepatotoxicity. The present study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative effect of roflumilast (ROF), a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor against Cd-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four rats were assigned to four groups (n = 6). Group 1 served as normal control and the second group was administered with cadmium chloride (3 mg kg(-1), i.p.) for seven consecutive days. Third and fourth group rats were treated with Cd with concomitant administration of ROF at doses of 0.5 and 1.5 mg kg(-1) (p.o.), respectively for 7 days. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for the estimation of liver functions biomarker (AST and ALT). Followed by blood collection, all rats were sacrificed and hepatic tissues isolated for assessment of oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, SOD and CAT) and histopathological studies. Results: The treatment of rats with Cd results in increased serum AST and ALT levels and lipid peroxidation, depleted hepatic GSH content and inhibited activities of SOD and CAT significantly compared to the normal control group. The histological assessment showed vacuolar degeneration of liver cells with focal necrosis in Cd treated rats. ROF administration at both doses preserved the biochemical and histological changes in dose-dependent manner caused byCd toxicity to near-normal levels. Conclusion: The present study concludes that ROF might be acting as an antioxidant and protect the liver from Cd-induced oxidative stress.