Assessment of lycopene as a protective agent against nickel sulfate-induced toxicity in Wistar rats

Nickel sulfate (NiSO4) is widely used in industrial processes and is a common environmental pollutant. Exposure to nickel sulfate has been associated with various adverse health effects, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and oxidative stress. In this study, 24 Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I received daily saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) and corn oil (0.5 mL, oral gavage); NiSO4 (20 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 2 hr after administration of corn oil in Group II; Group III received lycopene (10 mg/kg, oral gavage) suspended in corn oil, followed by NiSO4 (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 hr later; Group IV received lycopene (10 mg/kg, oral gavage) suspended in corn oil. The findings demonstrated that lycopene did not affect the final body weight and organ weights of rats exposed to NiSO4. Lycopene reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a key biomarker of lipid peroxidation, in liver and kidney tissues. On the other hand, it increased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), while exerting no measurable effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD). The semi-quantitative assessment of liver and kidney tissues according to histopathological criteria revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between the NiSO4 group and the groups where lycopene was administered alongside NiSO4 for protective purposes. As a result, the protective effect of lycopene against NiSO4 toxicity was confirmed. The fact that nickel did not alter certain biochemical parameters suggests that this effect may depend on the dose of lycopene and the duration of its use.