Rescue effects of aqueous seed extracts of Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi against cadmium-induced hepatic, renal and gonadal damage in female albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of aqueous seed extracts of fennel "Foeniculum vulgare" (FVE) and caraway "Carum carvi" (CCE) on liver, kidney and reproductive organs in female rats against cadmium chloride (CC) intoxication.

METHODS: A total of 36 adult female rats were divided into six groups, six in each group. Control group (fed normal diet), CC-treated group (50 mg CC/kg diet), CCE-treated group (150 mg CCE/kg diet), CCE + CC group, FVE (150 mg/kg diet) and FVE + CC. One month later, all rats were sacrificed and all samples were collected at proestrus phase.

RESULTS: The toxic effects of CC were confirmed biochemically by significant increase of serum concentration of liver enzymes (P < 0.05), and creatinine (P < 0.001). Moreover, CC increased significantly the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P < 0.001). In addition, serum concentrations of estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Histopathologically, CC-treated group revealed marked pathological changes in renal, hepatic, ovarian and uterine tissues. All toxic findings observed in liver and kidney with CC treatment were found to be ameliorated markedly after co-treatments with FVE or CCE. Furthermore, co-treatment of FVE with CC improved significantly all studied reproductive parameters (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Both FVE and CCE could be used as efficient treatments for liver and kidney against CC intoxication. Moreover, FVE could be utilized as a potent treatment to protect and improve female fertility from cadmium intoxication.