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Abstract
Arsenic contamination of the environment poses a significant global health threat, with chronic exposure leading to severe toxicity in vital organs, primarily mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation. This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of Ruthin, a dietary flavonoid, against sodium arsenate (SA)-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. A total of thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7): Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (Rutin 50 mg/kg), Group 3 (SA 10 mg/kg), Group 4 (SA 10 mg/kg + Rutin 25 mg/kg), and Group 5 (SA 10 mg/kg + Rutin 50 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for 14 consecutive days. Following the treatment period, animals were sacrificed, and liver and kidney tissues were harvested for biochemical analysis. Key markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, including Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS), Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and Nitrite (NO_2^−) levels, were assayed in the tissue homogenates. The results revealed that administration of sodium arsenite alone (Group 3) caused a highly significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of RONS, MPO activity, and Nitrite in both the liver and kidney when compared to the control group, indicating severe oxidative damage and inflammatory infiltration. Conversely, co-administration of Rutin at both 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg (Groups 4 and 5) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated these SA-induced increases. The higher dose of Rutin (50 mg/kg) demonstrated a more pronounced protective effect, restoring the biochemical parameters towards control levels. This study concludes that Rutin possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that effectively ameliorate sodium arsenite-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in Wistar rats, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent against arsenic-induced organ damage
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