Background: Chromium is a heavy metal that used in the painting, dyes, and leather tanning industries. Potassium dichromate Cr6+ has demonstrated to induce nephrotoxicity associated with oxidative stress in humans and animals. Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal remedies with a wide range of beneficial therapeutic effects.
Objective: to evaluate the effect of potassium dichromate on convoluted tubules of adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of ginseng.
Materials and methods: Forty adult male rats included and divided equally into 4 groups(10 rats for each): Group I (control), group II (ginseng group): The rats received daily oral dose of the ginseng (100mg/Kg body weight/day) by gastric tube for 3 weeks, group III (potassium dichromate group):The rats received single subcutaneously injection of potassium dichromate (15 mg/kg body weight),group IV (potassium dichromate and ginseng group): The rats received potassium dichromate and ginseng for 3 weeks. Kidney specimens were prepared for light microscopic examination (H&E), Masson’s trichrome, immunohistochemical detection of caspase-3,semithin and ultrathin sections were prepared for electron microscopic examination.
Results: Group III showed degeneration and necrosis of cells of renal tubules (proximal and distal) with tubular dilatation, an increase of collagen fibers around degenerated convoluted tubules and cell apoptosis(highly expressed caspase-3),Electron microscopic results showed marked disrupted brush border of proximal convolutes tubules and disturbance of the basal infoldings of distal convolutes tubules. The cytoplasm had mitochondria irregular in shape and variable in size and electron large dense particle. Whorlly appearance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane around the degenerated organelles were seen. Group IV showed improvement of light and electron microscopic changes described before. Conclusion: Ginseng has protective effect against potassium dichromate induced nephrotoxicity as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities. We advise the workers who deal with chromium to take enough doses of ginseng to protect themselves from chromium side effects.
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