A Study on the role of Tribulus terrestris in cadmium-induced toxicity on some organs of adult male albino rats

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous environmental pollutant that causes toxicity to humans and animals even when exposed to a small amount as it is hard to expel from the body affecting all body parts. Tribulus terrestris (Tt) is a natural herb used for its medicinal effects around the world. This study directed to detect the possibility of Tt to protect from Cd toxicity in adult male albino rats. Twenty-four rats were separated into four groups, each 6 rats: The first group (C); served as a control without any treatments. Group (2) (Tt + Cd); administrated daily by oral dose of Tt (5 mg/ kg b. wt. liquified in distilled water) for eight weeks then from the start of the ninth week, they daily injected intraperitoneally with Cd (2 mg/kg b. wt.) for eight days. Group (3) (Cd); injected with Cd only at the same dose for eight days. Group (4) (Cd + Tt); firstly, injected with Cd at the same dose for eight days then on the ninth day they had the same Tt dose for eight weeks. In this study, results clarified that Cd application significantly decreased plasma SOD level and the time spent in the opened arms of the elevated plus maze test while increased plasma levels of H 2 O 2 , CRP, IL-6, immunoreaction of brain cleaved caspase-3 and the time spent in the closed arms of the elevated plus maze test compared to control. Administration of Tt succeeded to increase SOD level and the time spent in the opened arms of the elevated plus maze test; however, it reduced plasma levels of H 2 O 2 , CRP, IL-6, immunoreaction of brain cleaved caspase-3 and the time spent in the closed arms of the elevated plus maze test in comparison with Cd group. In conclusion, Tt is highly protective for the brain from harmful Cd effects, referring to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties.