Investigation of the Effect of Borago officinalis on Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 Pathways Against Spleen Toxicity Induced by Lead Acetate in Rats

Authors : Samet Tekin, Furkan Aykurt, Burak Çınar, Ömer Yardımcı, Burak Batuhan Laçin, Merve Bolat, İsmail Bolat, Ali Cınar

Pages : 132-138

Doi:10.36483/vanvetj.1683003

View : 76 | Download : 105

Publication Date : 2025-07-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal and an environmental pollutant. Lead exposure causes damage and dysfunctions in organs. In tissues exposed to lead, ROS increase, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Borago officinalis (BO) against lead, whose toxic effects are well-established. In this study, 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The groups were determined as control, BO100, Pb (20 mg/kg), Pb+BO50 and Pb+BO100. After the experimental procedures were completed, the tissues were transported in cold chain and stored in -80 deep freezer until the experiments were performed. Keap-1 level was determined in spleen tissue using Western blot method. At the same time, IL-1β, IL-10, NF-ĸB, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 levels were determined by RT-PCR method. BO administration stimulated Keap-1 level in relation to oxidative stress. While BO suppressed IL-1β and NF-ĸB levels, it stimulated IL-10 level, which are anti-inflammatory markers. BO also suppressed Bax and Kaspas-3 levels, while significantly stimulating Bcl-2 level. With these effects, it was observed that BO had anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effects in the spleen tissue of rats treated with lead acetate.
Keywords : Apoptosis, Borago officinalis, İnflamasyon, Kurşun asetat, Oksidatif stres.

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