Potential Protective Effect of Silymarin, as an Antioxidant Against The Toxicity of The Aa in Cardiac Tissue

Acrylamide (AA) has a toxic effect on both animals and human. The present study investigated the potential protective effect of silymarin (SIL), as an antioxidant against the toxicity of the AA in cardiac tissue.

Rats were divided into four groups as follows: The control, AA, SIL, and AA+SIL groups. The obtained results showed that AA reduces the values of Hb content, PCV and RBCs count. Additionally, AA enhanced the enzymatic activities of LDH and CK, altered lipid profile, digested DNA, induced oxidative stress and developed histopathological changes in the heart of the treated rats. On the other hand, the concomitant administration of AA and SIL attenuated the variation in the previous parameters, suggesting a potential protective effect of SIL against AA-induced cardiac toxicity.

Practical Applications

It is necessary to decrease the acrylamide level in different foods. Regular consumption of SIL could offer protection to the heart and ameliorate haematological alterations and DNA damage induced by AA.

Introduction

Acrylamide (AA) is a small vinylic compound. It has the chemical structure of (CH2=CO–NH2). It is used to produce polyacrylamides, that are used in wastewater treatment, dye synthesis, gel chromatography, textile processing, electrophoresis, pharmaceuticals industry, photography, tapes and gels. AA is also found in tobacco smoke and primarily produced in fried, roasted, grilled or baked foods at a temperature above 120°C. In Maillard reaction, the NH2 of asparagine and carbonyl group of glucose react together to produce acrylamide. Previous studies in the literature showed that AA is absorbed in a very rapid and effective manner through the gastrointestinal system. The cellular toxicity of the AA is initiated by its biotransformation by cytochrome P4502El into a more potent reactive molecule, glycidamide, which has more reactivity towards proteins, hemoglobin and DNA than the AA itself. AA is easily transported throughout the body because of its very small size and hydrophilicity.

Experimentally, administration of AA may have toxic and carcinogenic effects on both animals and human. It was demonstrated that AA could alter hematological parameters and lipid profile in treated rats. Heart disease is among the most important causes of death in the world. In the heart, AA caused structural changes indicating degeneration of the tissue. In addition, it caused elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (EC: 1.1.1.27) and creatine kinase (CK) (EC: 2.7.3.2.). AA can cause oxidative stress like the affection of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the reduction in antioxidant enzymatic activities. It is well known that administration of antioxidants ameliorated drug-induced toxicity.

Silymarin (SIL) is produced from leaves, seeds and fruits of Silybum marianum (milk–thistle) which is one of the family Asteraceae. SIL contains flavolignans, such as taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin, silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A and isosilybin B. SIL has multiple therapeutics effects including antioxidant, hepatoprotectant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergic, anti-mutagenic, antiviral, antineoplastic, and antithrombotic agents and has vasodilatory actions. It was suggested that SIL dietary supplement could prevent free radical-related diseases as a natural antioxidant. Protective effects of SIL in different tissues have been reported against some toxic materials and different disorders.