Pistacia chinensis: A Potent Ameliorator of CCl4Induced Lung and Thyroid Toxicity in Rat Model

Abstract

In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract ofPistacia chinensisbark (PCEB) was investigated in rats against CCl4induced lung and thyroid injuries. PCEB dose dependently inhibited the rise of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite, and protein content and restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes, that is, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase,γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and quinone reductase in both lung and thyroid tissues of CCl4treated rats. Decrease in number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and hemoglobin and T3and T4content as well as increase in monocytes, eosinophils, and lymphocytes count with CCl4were restored to normal level with PCEB treatment. Histological study of CCl4treated rats showed various lung injuries like rupture of alveolar walls and bronchioles, aggregation of fibroblasts, and disorganized Clara cells. Similarly, histology of CCl4treated thyroid tissues displayed damaged thyroid follicles, hypertrophy, and colloidal depletion. However, PCEB exhibited protective behaviour for lungs and thyroid, with improved histological structure in a dose dependant manner. Presence of three known phenolic compounds, that is, rutin, tannin, and gallic acid, and three unknown compounds was verified in thin layer chromatographic assessment of PCEB. In conclusion,P. chinensisexhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.