Oxidative stress and histomorphological changes in brain and effects of supplementation of Linumusitatissimum (flaxseed) and Emblica officinalis (amla) against lead toxicity in Wistar rats

Lead (Pb) is a non-biodegradable, ubiquitous, environmental contaminant and is well known for toxicity in both human and animal. This study aimed to investigate the propensity of lead to induce neurotoxicity and changes in histological and oxidative stress in Wistar rats following a 45 days oral exposure and its possible attenuation by amla and flaxseed. Rats were assigned to 6 treatment groups; Group I served as vehicle control and they received distilled water, whereas rats in Group II @ 60 mg/kg bwt. lead acetate, Group III Emblica officinalis @ 100 mg/rat/day, Group IV Linumusitatissimum @ 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 + Linumusitatissimum @ 300 mg/kg b. wt. were administered orally. Antioxidant enzyme activities like Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly decreased meanwhile, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly increased in lead acetate-treated rats (Group-II). Upon light microscopical examination in Group II rats, severe degenerative changes were noticed in the brain. The levels of all the above parameters were significantly improved in the ameliorated group (Group V and VI). The present study revealed that the presence of amla and flaxseed could diminish the adverse effects of lead acetate as shown in the histological analysis of rat brain.