Bisphenol A toxicity induced hepatotoxicity and altered biochemical, histopathology, and immunohistochemical parameters: the metal chelating and antioxidant roles of naringin

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental pollutant used in the polymer industry to produce plastics. BPA has been reported to cause deleterious effects in both humans and animals. Naringin is one of the flavonoids with antioxidant and metal chelating properties. This study was carried out to assess the potential ameliorative effect of naringin on BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks. Thirty-one-day-old cockerel chicks were used for this study and randomly divided into 6 groups of five chicks per group as follows: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (BPA 100 ppm), Group 3 (BPA + 100 mg/kg naringin), Groups 4 (BPA + 200 mg/kg naringin), Group 5 (100 mg/kg naringin), and Group 6 (200 mg/kg naringin), respectively. The administration of BPA was via drinking water and naringin through oral gavage. BPA intoxication caused significant (p < 0.05) increases in ALT, ALP, AST, TC, TAG, and LDL, but decrease total protein and HDL-cholesterol when compared with the control. Also, there were significant increases in hepatic H2O2 generation and MDA contents with concomitant decrease in reduced glutathione content, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase activity in BPA intoxicated chicks. Histology revealed a moderate to diffuse sinusoidal congestion, with a severe periportal cellular infiltration in BPA intoxicated chicks. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher expression of hepatic caspase 3 and TNF-α in chicks exposed to BPA alone relative to the control and naringin treated chicks (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg). Findings from this study show that naringin administration restored hepatoxicity, improved antioxidant status, and lowered exaggerated values of total cholesterol, oxidative stress indices, inflammation, and ameliorated ultrastructure anarchy. Combining all, the incorporation of naringin into poultry feeds could serve as a metal chelator and toxicant binder with beneficial effects in the reduction of toxicities associated with environmental pollutants such as bisphenol A.