ROLE OF RUTIN IN THE ATTENUATION OF LEAD- INDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL TOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Lead exposure is thought to be harmful and has been linked to behavioral abnormalities, hearing deficiencies, neuromuscular weakness, and decreased cognitive abilities in humans. Flavonoids have beneficial biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiviral, anticarcinogenic effects. Flavonoids are the most recognised phytochemicals that function as antioxidants. Flavonoids' antioxidant activity includes suppressing ROS generation by inhibiting enzymes, scavenging free radicals, and regulating antioxidant defenses. Rutin is a typical dietary flavonoid that is nontoxic and naturally derived. It has a variety of beneficial biological properties including anti-cancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, haematoprotective, anti-arthritis, anthelmintic effects. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the possible attenuative effects of Rutin on lead-induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats. After purchase and acclimatization, the Wistar rats were weighed and divided into six equal groups (control and treatment groups). Group A (Control) was administered 1 ml dH2O/day. Group B (Pb) was administered 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) of Pb acetate only. Group C (RUT1 + Pb) was administered 50 mg/kg BW of Rutin and 100 mg/kg BW of Pb acetate. Group D (RUT2 + Pb) was administered 100 mg/kg BW of Rutin and 100mg/kg of Pb acetate. Group E (RUT1) was administered 50 mg/kg BW of Rutin only and Group F (RUT2) was administered 100mg/kg BW of Rutin only. The administration, via an orogastric tube, lasted for 28 days and rats were fed with standard rat chow and had free access to water throughout the entire study period. All Rutin administration pre-treatment were done one hour before Lead. Animals were weighed and neurobehavioral activity (Novel object recognition test) was evaluated. The rats were then sacrificed for sample collection, and the hippocampus was harvested for assessment of antioxidant activity and histological alterations . The findings showed that the Pb group showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in final body weight (FBW) compared to the control and Rutin treated groups, which showed a greater FBW. Neurobehavioral findings revealed that rats in the Pb group had significantly lower neurobehavioral function when compared to Control and Rutin treated groups. The Pb alone groups demonstrated oxidative stress (low antioxidant activity and increased lipid peroxidation), whereas the Control and Rutin treated groups had significant increase (p<0.05) in antioxidant activity. Histological findings shows altered morphology with the presence of vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei in the CA1 region of the Pb treated group, however the pretreated groups showed a healthier tissue architecture when compared to lead only treated group. In conclusion, the findings showed that Rutin was not toxic to the animals and protected against Pb toxicity.