Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology

The present study was conducted to elucidate the possible protective effect of Linum usitatissimum (Flaxseed) and Emblica officinalis (Amla) on lead induced hepatic and renal toxicity in wistar rats. A total of 108 adult wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups with 18 rats in each group. Group I served as vehicle control and they received distilled water, whereas rats in group II-@ 60 mg/kg b.wt. lead acetate, group III-Emblica officinalis @ 100 mg/rat/day, group IV-Linum usitatissimum @ 300 mg/kg b.wt, group V-lead acetate @ 60 mg/kg b.wt + Emblica officinalis @ 100 mg/rat/day, and group VI-lead acetate @ 60 mg/kg b.wt + Linum usitatissimum @ 300 mg/kg b. wt. were administered through oral gavage for 45 days. The results indicated that rat treated with lead acetate showed significant elevation in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels compared with the healthy control ones while there were significant reduction in antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in liver and kidney. Histopathology of liver revealed degenerative changes like micro vesicular fatty changes, focal loss of hepatocytes and bile ductular hyperplasia and in kidney desquamated renal tubular epithelium, disruption of renal tubules and inter tubular haemorrhages were evident in lead treated group. The levels of all above parameters were significantly improved in the ameliorated group (Group V and VI). These experimental results strongly indicate the protective effect of Amla and Flaxseed against lead induced different pathological manifestations on liver and kidney. In addition, the ameliorating effect of Emblica was found to be relatively better than that of Flaxseed in most of the parameters.