Green synthesized selenium nanoparticles attenuate cadmium chloride induced hepatorenal oxidative damage in male Wistar rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64354/8g9q5698Keywords:
Selenium nanoparticles; green synthesis; cadmium chloride; oxidative stress; hepatorenal toxicity; antioxidant enzymes; Wistar ratsAbstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a persistent environmental and industrial pollutant that accumulates mainly in the liver and the kidneys, where it drives oxidative injury. The present work was designed to find out whether selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) prepared through an eco-friendly, plant-mediated route could blunt cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) induced hepatorenal damage in male Wistar rats. SeNPs were biosynthesised using a Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract that acted as both reducing and capping agent, and were characterised by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM coupled with EDX, TEM and dynamic light scattering. The particles were spherical, reasonably uniform and within the nanometre range, with a characteristic surface-plasmon band and surface functional groups consistent with phytochemical capping. Animals were allocated to four groups (control, SeNPs, CdCl₂, and CdCl₂ + SeNPs) and treated for [duration]. CdCl₂ markedly raised serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea and creatinine, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) in both liver and kidney tissue, and lowered reduced glutathione (GSH) together with the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Histology of the two organs showed degeneration, congestion and inflammatory infiltration. Co-administration of green SeNPs reversed most of these changes: the biochemical markers moved back close to control values, antioxidant capacity was largely restored and tissue architecture was, for the most part, preserved. The protection is best explained by the radical-scavenging behaviour of the nanoparticles, their contribution to selenoprotein-dependent antioxidant defence, and a likely interaction with Cd that limits its pro-oxidant action. Taken together, plant-derived SeNPs appear to be a promising, low-toxicity candidate for mitigating cadmium-related hepatorenal toxicity, although the narrow margin between beneficial and toxic selenium doses means that dose optimisation will remain important.
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