Naringin mitigates Bisphenol A-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks

Abstract

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental pollutant, a monomer used in the polymer industry to produce plastics. BPA has been reported to cause deleterious effects in both humans and animals. Naringin is one of the flavonoids with antioxidant and metal chelating properties. This study was carried out to assess the potential ameliorative effect of naringin on BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks. Thirty-one-day old cockerel chicks used for this study were randomly divided into 6 groups of five chicks per group as follows: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (BPA 100 mg/kg), Group 3 (BPA + 100 mg/kg naringin), Groups 4 (BPA + 200 mg/kg naringin), Group 5 (100 mg/kg naringin) and Group 6 (100 mg/kg naringin), respectively. The administration of BPA and naringin was through oral gavage. BPA intoxication precipitated significant (p < 0.05) increased ALT, ALP, AST, TC, TG, LDL, but decreased total protein and HDL-cholesterol when compared with the control. Also, there was a significant increase in hepatic H2O2 generation and MDA content with concomitant decrease in reduce glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase activity in BPA intoxicated chicks. Histology revealed a moderate diffuse sinusoidal congestion, with a severe periportal cellular infiltration in BPA intoxicated chicks. Immunohistochemistry results revealed a higher expression of hepatic caspase 3 and TNF-α in chicks exposed to BPA alone relative to the control and chicks treated with naringin (100 mg/g and 200 mg/kg). Findings from this study showed that naringin administration restored hepatoxicity, improved antioxidant status, and lowered exaggerated values of cholesterol, oxidative stress indices, and ameliorated ultrastructure anarchy. Combining all, the incorporation of naringin into poultry feeds could position the flavonoid as a novel antioxidant and metal chelator with beneficial effects in the reduction of toxicities associated with environmental pollutants such as bisphenol A, thereby boosting production efficiency in livestock production.