Publication Details
Abstract
The Lead (Pb) exposure is a significant environmental health issue, exerting extensive adverse effects on several physiological systems. This study examined the preventive effects of nano-genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, against lead-induced poisoning in male rats. The control group (C) had a mean body weight of 185.42 ± 2.141 grams. The Lead (Pb) group (T1), which received lead acetate (30 mg/kg body weight, orally), had a significantly reduced mean body weight of 141.21 ± 3.210 grams (p < 0.05). The Nano-genistein group (T2), which received nano-genistein (10 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally), had a significantly increased mean body weight of 242.11 ± 6.045 grams (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The Pb + Nano-genistein group (T3), which received lead acetate and nano-genistein, had a mean body weight of 201.41 ± 4.665 grams, significantly higher than the Lead (Pb) group (T1, p < 0.05), however lower than the Nano-genistein group (T2, p < 0.05). Exposure to lead (Pb) in the Pb group (T1) significantly increased the expression levels of the Cdkn1a and Tgfb1 (TGFβ1) genes to 9.754 ± 0.210 and 7.954 ± 0.710, respectively (p < 0.05), in comparison to the control group. The administration of nano-genistein in the Nano-genistein group (T2) resulted in a significant decrease in Cdkn1a and Tgfb1 (TGFβ1) expression levels to 0.721 ± 0.172 and 0.504 ± 0.272, respectively (p < 0.05). In the Pb + Nano-genistein group (T3), the combination of lead exposure and nano-genistein treatment led to Cdkn1a and Tgfb1 (TGFβ1) expression levels of 3.214 ± 0.101 and 2.874 ± 0.141, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05), yet substantially lower than those in the Lead (Pb) group (T1, p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that lead exposure significantly reduced body weights and increased the expression of Cdkn1a and Tgfb1 (TGFβ1) genes in male rats, while nano-genistein therapy had a protective effect, mitigating these detrimental consequences. The combination of lead and nano-genistein partially reduced the harmful effects of lead, indicating that nano-genistein may possess therapeutic potential in mitigating lead-induced toxicity. The research offers significant insights into the protective function of nano-genistein against lead exposure and necessitates more exploration in preclinical and clinical environments. words.