Ginseng ameliorates pulmonary toxicity induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rats
Raghda A. El-Sayed, Fatma M. El‐Demerdash, Mohammed A. El‐Magd
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the protective and therapeutic role of ginseng against silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO 2 NPs)-induced toxicity in the lungs. Methods: Sixty male rats were divided into five groups ( n = 12/ group); group 1 was used as a control, group 2 received ginseng, group 3 was treated with SiO 2 NPs, and group 4 was pretreated with ginseng one week before SiO 2 NPs, while group 5 was given SiO 2 NPs one week before supplementation with ginseng. Animals were treated with both ginseng and SiO 2 NPs orally for five weeks. Real-time PCR was used to measure gene expression. Besides, DNA damage and cell cycle changes were determined by comet assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Histological study was also done to assess the effect of ginseng on SiO 2 NPs-induced toxicity. Results: SiO 2 NPs increased lipid peroxidation and decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. SiO 2 NPs induced apoptosis in lung tissues as revealed by upregulation of Bax and caspase 3 and downregulation of Bcl-2 as well as the induction of DNA damage. SiO 2 NPs also caused inflammation as indicated by upregulation of the inflammation-related genes [interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) , tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) , nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) , cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) , and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1)] as well as cell cycle arrest in the G 0 /G 1 phase of lung cells. Moreover, histopathological examination proved the biochemical and molecular perturbations that occurred due to SiO 2 NPs toxicity. However, ginseng alleviated SiO 2 NPs-induced toxicity in rat lung. Conclusions: Ginseng has a potent preventive and therapeutic effect and could be used in the treatment of SiO 2 NPs-induced pulmonary toxicity.