Abstract
Background: Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that represents an environmental toxicant causing serious health problem. Apigenin (APG) is a plant derived flavonoid with several therapeutic activities. So, the aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of APG against Pb induced toxicity in cerebella of treated rats.
Method: Twenty-four adult male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used in the present study. They were divided into four groups of six animals per each one as follows: Group I: Rats were daily injected (i.p.) with normal saline as vehicle. Group II: Rats were daily injected (i.p) with lead acetate at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. Group III: Rats were daily injected (i.p) with lead acetate at a dose of 20 mg/kg (b.w.) followed by injection (i.p) with APG at dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. Group IV: Rats were daily injected (i.p) with APG at dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. At the end of the four-weeks experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and samples of blood and cerebellar tissue were collected. Results: Lead induced oxidative stress, alterations in levels of studied neurotransmitters, increase in the activities of acetylcholinesterase and increase in the level of the Il-6 and TNF-á and decrease in Il-4 and Il-10 and histological alterations in cerebellum. On the other hand, treatment with APG attenuates these alterations. suggesting that APG might play a neuroprotective role in lead induced neurotoxicity.