Ginseng Shows Potent Preventive Effect Against Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles Toxicity

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles are widely used in various applications, including cosmetics, food, and drug delivery. However, research has shown that these nanoparticles can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammation in rat liver. A study published in Environmental Toxicology has found that ginseng, a plant with antioxidant properties, can modulate the deleterious effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles. The research concluded that ginseng has a potent preventive effect than a therapeutic one and might be used in the treatment of silicon dioxide nanoparticles hepatotoxicity.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that silicon dioxide nanoparticles increased lipid peroxidation, liver function enzymes, and decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant level in rat liver.
• The administration of silicon dioxide nanoparticles motivated liver apoptosis, as revealed by the upregulation of the apoptotic genes Bax and Beclin 1 and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2.
• Ginseng caused a significant modulation on the deleterious effects induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rat liver, including a decrease in oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammation.
• The study concluded that ginseng has a potent preventive effect than a therapeutic one and might be used in the treatment of silicon dioxide nanoparticles hepatotoxicity.
• The research was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt and involved a total of 35 male rats, which were allocated into five groups and treated with ginseng, silicon dioxide nanoparticles, or a combination of both.
• The study used histopathological examination to prove the biochemical and molecular perturbations occurred due to silicon dioxide nanoparticles toxicity.
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Environmental Toxicology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Statistics:

• 35 male rats were used in the study to investigate the effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and ginseng on rat liver.
• The rats were treated with ginseng (75 mg/kg, 1/10 LD), silicon dioxide nanoparticles (200 mg/kg, 1/10 LD), or a combination of both for 5 weeks.
• The study found a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, liver function enzymes, and decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant level in rat liver after administration of silicon dioxide nanoparticles.
• The administration of silicon dioxide nanoparticles motivated liver apoptosis, with upregulation of the apoptotic genes Bax and Beclin 1 and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2.
• Ginseng caused a significant modulation on the deleterious effects induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rat liver, including a decrease in oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammation.

Sources:

• Panax ginseng modulates oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammations induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rats. Environmental Toxicology, 2021.
• Kafrelsheikh University. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
• Mohammed A. El-Magd. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University.
• Fatma M. El-Demerdash. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University.
• Raghda A. El-Sayed. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University.