Potential of Caffeic Acid in Combating Aluminum and Beryllium Induced Oxidative Injury in Multiorgan: Insight From Hematology, Biochemistry and Histology in Rats

Metal contamination poses a significant health concern driven by industrialization, landscape modifications, and rapid urbanization. Aluminum and beryllium exposure has been associated with multiple organ dysfunction, including liver, kidney and brain. In present study investigates therapeutic effects of caffeic acid in mitigating liver, kidney and brain damage induced by combined exposure to aluminum and beryllium in female rats. Rats were assigned into five groups. Group 1 served as control. Groups 2-5 were exposed to combination of aluminum nitrate (6.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and beryllium nitrate (1 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 4 weeks. Groups 3, 4, and 5 received oral doses of caffeic acid (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg, respectively) for 2 weeks after 2 weeks of exposure to toxicants. After 24 h of the last treatment, animals were euthanised, followed by hematology, liver kidney and brain function tests, oxidative stress and antioxidant status in studied organs. Combined exposure to metals significantly altered hematology, liver, kidney and brain function markers. Enzymatic antioxidant defenses, including reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione Sulfur transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were compromised, whereas lipid peroxidation and cholesterol levels were significantly increased. Histological observations revealed organ injury due to toxic effects of combined exposure to aluminum and beryllium. Caffeic acid treatment exhibited a dose-dependent recovery in these parameters and restored them towards control. These findings suggested that caffeic acid may perform therapeutic role by exerting direct and indirect antioxidant effects against combined exposure to aluminum and beryllium induced injury in multiple organs.