Pathology of experimental arsenic toxicity in rats and investigation of protective effect of simultaneously administered <i>Cistus laurifolius</i> L. (Cistaceae)

Sodium arsenite is abundantly available in the environment, and arsenic toxicity is a public health problem that raises concerns worldwide. In this study, the protective effect of Cistus laurifolius L. (Cistaceae) against sodium arsenite-induced oxidative stress in rats was investigated. The 108 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 12 equal groups. Group 1 was the negative control, and no treatment was given to the rats in this group. Group 2 was the normal control, and only carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was given as the solvent of the plant extract. Group 3 received 5 mg/kg sodium arsenite. Groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 were given 500 mg/kg/day doses of n-hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and methanolic extracts of Cistus laurifolius L. (Cistaceae), respectively. Groups 8, 9, 10, and 11 were given a 500 mg/kg/day doses of sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg) and respectively the n-hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and methanolic extracts of Cistus laurifolius L. simultaneously. Group 12 was given sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg), as well as alpha lipoic acid (70 mg/kg) as a standard control. All treatments were given for 32 days through gastric gavage. Cistus laurifolius extracts and alpha-lipoic acid reduced oxidative stress and protected tissues from histopathological damage, while ethyl acetate extract showed a greater reduction in metallothionein positivity. In conclusion, it was determined that Cistus laurifolius L. extracts, especially its ethyl acetate extract, had protective effects against sodium arsenite-induced oxidative damage in rats.