Ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on titanium dioxide nanoparticles induced acute toxicity. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Although the nanoparticles had a beneficial activity, it had also adverse effects as a result of generation of oxidative stress. The current study aimed to assess the ameliorative effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) induced acute toxicity in male rats. Forty-eight male rats were distributed into four equal groups (12 rats each). Group (1) received single oral dose of TiONPs (300 mg/kg), Group (2) received TiONPs and TQ (20 mg/kg), Group (3) received TQ and group (4) received only the vehicle and served as control group. TiONPs intoxicated group showed increased the level of lipid peroxidation product (LPO), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and decreased the level of antioxidants and testosterone. Vascular and degenerative changes in the liver and testes were observed by light microscopy as well as presence of TiONPs in the lysosomes by electron microscopy. Treatment with TQ revealed improvement of the biochemical parameters, histology and ultrastructure of the liver and testes. It was concluded that acute intoxication of rats with TiONPs induced adverse effect in the liver and testes. Administration of TQ has an ameliorative effect against oxidative stress induced by TiONPs intoxication.