Ameliorative Effect of Arctium Lappa Against Cadmium Toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal which is leading towards serious degrees of contamination health hazards. It is reported that Cd impedes the mitochondrial electron transfer chain and persuades Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production¹. Moreover; oxidative stress as a result of Cd damage DNA and cause apoptosis^1,2. It also restrains DNA repair, which can lead to mutations³ and ultimately carcinogenesis⁴. Accordingly; scientists are being employed the comet assay to assess DNA damage in order to determine genotoxicity. Therefore, it’s the need of hour to cope with the disastrous outcomes of produce because of Cadmium. In this regard, burdock (Arctium lappa) has been gaining popularity among experts.

The roots, seeds and leaves of burdock have a crucial role in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)⁵, because it “Detoxify” blood in TCM term and endorse blood circulation to the skin surface, to treat eczema. Certain active compounds present in the seeds of burdock possess anti-inflammatory characteristics to hinder growth of tumors e.g. in case of pancreatic carcinoma. Moreover; leaf extract have the potential to cure chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes and AIDS⁵.

Effectiveness of Arctium lappa against hepatotoxicants arise a new hope to assess its therapeutic efficiency in acute liver Cd intoxication. According to Pharmacological reports; it also helps to boost the immune system and improve metabolic functions⁶. Secondary metabolites including lignans and flavonoids Burdock because of which it exhibits such valuable characteristics in addition to antioxidants and antidiabetic capability^5,7. Accordingly, Asma Suliman AL-Gebaly performed an experiment to assess the antioxidative ability of Burdock root on cadmium-induced oxidative stress and histopathology of the kidney of Wistar rats. In this experiment, researcher applied the Cadmium in a form of cadmium chloride to three groups (15 mg Cd kg^–1) for five weeks with two groups pre-treated with ‘Arctium lappa’ administration, 100 and 200 mg kg^–1 b.wt. Afterwards; data were analyzed through one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test to calculate the difference among means using the JMP version 12.

Asma Suliman noted that cadmium causes a significant damage to tissues and DNA but, Arctium lappa (orally pre-applied to the Wister rabbits) exhibited satisfactory outcomes against this loss. Moreover, application of 200 mg Arctium lappa extaract kg^–1 b.wt., exhibited more efficieny as compared to lower dose (100 mg Arctium lappa kg^–1 b.wt.). Therefore, scientist concluded that the supplementation of Arctium lappa used in the experiment possess great therapeutic potential against toxicity. Moreover, properties of natural products like photochemicals against metal toxicity and oxidative damage pave a way to restore the normal function of the body organs in therapeutic field.

References:

1. Permenter, M.G., J.A. Lewis and D.A. Jackson, 2011. Exposure to nickel, chromium, or cadmium causes distinct changes in the gene expression patterns of a rat liver derived cell line. PloS One, Vol. 6. 10.1371/journal.pone.0027730.
2. Wang, J., P. Zhang, Q. Shen, Q. Wang, D. Liu, J. Li and L. Wang, 2013. The effects of cadmium exposure on the oxidative state and cell death in the gill of freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. PloS One, Vol. 8. 10.1371/journal.pone.0064020.
3. Wang, Y., J. Fang, S.S. Leonard and K.M.K. Rao, 2004. Cadmium inhibits the electron transfer chain and induces reactive oxygen species. Free Radic. Biol. Med., 36: 1434-1443.
4. , 2006. Cadmium and its Inorganic Compounds. In: The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety, Part I: MAK Value Documentations, Henschler, D., H. Greim and A. Hartwig (Eds.). Vol. 22, VCH, Germany, pp: 119-146.
5. Chan, Y.S., L.N. Cheng, J.H. Wu, E. Chan and Y.W. Kwan et al., 2011. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology, 19: 245-254.

6. Predes, F.S., A.L. Ruiz, J.E. Carvalho, M.A. Foglio and H. Dolder, 2011. Antioxidative and in vitro antiproliferative activity of Arctium lappa root extracts. BMC Complement. Alter. Med., Vol. 11. 10.1186/1472-6882-11-25
7. Ferracane, R., G. Graziani, M. Gallo, V. Fogliano and A. Ritieni, 2010. Metabolic profile of the bioactive compounds of burdock (Arctium lappa) seeds, roots and leaves. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal., 51: 399-404.