Investigation of the protective efficacy of boric acid against hepatotoxicity damage in cadmium-induced rats

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the ubiquitous and non-biodegradable pollutants that pose great dangers to human health. With the development of industry, the density of this metal in nature has increased significantly. Boric acid is an essential micronutrient or mineral found naturally in fruits, vegetables and some foods In this study, 28 Wistar Albino female rats with an average of 8-10 weeks were used. Rats were divided into 4 groups in groups of 7 in specially prepared cages. Group 1: It is the control group and no action was applied during the experiment. Group 2: Cd group, on the first day of the experiment, a single dose of 15 mg/kg of Cd was given orally by gavage and no other drug was given until the 7th day of the experiment. Group 3: Boric acid (BA) group, with a daily dose of 200 mg/kg i.p. was done for 7 days. Group 4: Cd+BA group, Cd was given a single dose of 15 mg/kg, and boric acid was administered i.p. at a daily dose of 200 mg/kg for 7 days. given. When we look at the serum levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Oxidant Levels (TOS), which are oxidative stress markers, it was observed that these values of the Cd+BA group were significantly lower than the Cd group. Tumor necrotizing factor alpha (TNF-α) and APAF-1 expressions in liver tissue in immunohistochemical examinations were examined, it was observed that the expressions in the Cd+BA group were significantly lower than in the Cd group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this experimental study, it was determined that boric acid is an antioxidant in hepatotoxicity caused by Cd, and it is hepatoprotective by reducing cytokine release in immunohistochemical evaluation. Keywords: Cadmium, Boric acid, Hepatotoxicity, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress