Elucidation of Therapeutic Potential of Ficus carica (Common Fig) Leaves Against Cadmium Induced Neurotoxicity, Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Cadmium is naturally occurring metal that affects many organs even at low level of exposure. Studies reported that cadmium disturbs the different cellular mechanisms by interacting with the cell redox maintenance and could lead to cell death. The cure for cadmium intoxication with medications can have unreceptive side effects so it is necessary for safe removal of cadmium from the tissues of the body without any detrimental properties. In order to neutralize the toxic effect of Cadmium highly antioxidant producing plant like Ficus carica leaves was used. To evaluate the toxic effect of Cadmium animal models (Wistar rats) were used, 300 ppm of CdCl2 suspension has administered through drinking water upto 7 week. After induction of toxicity different biochemical tests were conducted like LFT, RFT, Creatinine, Urea, MDA assay, with different memory and spatial learning behavioral test. Morris water maze test and Y-maze test were performed to evaluate memory and spatial learning. The antioxidant level expression of different genes like CATs, SODs, Gpx were checked by using real time PCR. After induction of Cadmium toxicity, post treatment by using 500 mg/kg/day of Ficus carica leaves extract was administered by oral route in their standard diet. One hundred and thirty seven phytochemical compounds were acquired with the highest yield of the GC-MS analysis. Onwards, leave were studied for different in vitro analysis including DPPH scavenging activity and molecular docking analysis of lead compound with the SOD, CAT and GPx via MOE software. The outcomes of this study elaborate that Fc leaves can reverse successfully the Cd intoxication. The level of Cd was reduced in the hippocampus, liver and kidney tissues after treatment with Fc leaves. The upregulation gene expression of SOD, CAT and GPx were also observed after the treatment with Fc leaves. Furthermore, Fc leaves revealed to be more potent in improvement of learning and memory, upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes expression and downregulation of lipid peroxidation marker in liver, kidney and hippocampus. The proposed study suggests that diet comprising Fc leaves can be helpful in the prevention of mortality and morbidity by cadmium.