The Effect of Borage Oil (Borago officinalis) on Lead Acetate-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Lead acetate (PbAc) is an environmental toxin known to induce cardiotoxicity via oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This study examined the protective role of borage oil (BO) in PbAc-exposed rats. Five groups were studied: Control, PbAc, PbAc + BO-50, PbAc + BO-100, and BO. Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)), and apoptotic genes (B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and Caspase-3) were evaluated using ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blot. PbAc exposure significantly increased MDA levels (p