The Effect of Borage Oil (Borago officinalis) on Lead Acetate-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Year 2025, Volume: 36 Issue: 3, 254 - 260, 30.11.2025

Merve Bolat , İsmail Bolat , Samet Tekin , Fikret Çelebi

https://doi.org/10.36483/vanvetj.1774021

Abstract

Lead acetate (PbAc) is an environmental toxin known to induce cardiotoxicity via oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This study examined the protective role of borage oil (BO) in PbAc-exposed rats. Five groups were studied: Control, PbAc, PbAc + BO-50, PbAc + BO-100, and BO. Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)), and apoptotic genes (B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and Caspase-3) were evaluated using ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blot. PbAc exposure significantly increased MDA levels (p<0.0001), while BO treatment dose-dependently reduced MDA concentrations (p<0.0001). Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH) were significantly reduced in the PbAc group (p<0.0001) but were restored following BO administration (p<0.0001). Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NF-κB were upregulated by PbAc (p<0.0001) and significantly downregulated with BO treatment. Apoptotic gene expression analysis revealed increased levels of Bax and Caspase-3, along with decreased expression of Bcl-2 in the PbAc group (p<0.0001), indicating apoptosis. These changes were reversed by BO, which lowered Bax and caspase-3 while upregulating Bcl-2 (p<0.0001). Western blot results confirmed the decrease in NF-κB protein levels in BO-treated rats (p<0.0001). These findings suggest that borage oil alleviates PbAc-induced cardiac damage by counteracting oxidative stress, suppressing inflammation, and inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, borage oil may offer a promising protective strategy against heavy metal-induced cardiotoxicity. Further research is recommended to support its clinical relevance.

Keywords

Antioxidants , Apoptosis , Borage oil , Cardiotoxicity , Inflammation , Lead acetate

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Atatürk University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (2025/04, Decision No: 72).

Kurşun Asetat ile İndüklenen Kardiyotoksisite Üzerine Hodan Yağının (Borago officinalis) Koruyucu Etkisi

Abstract

Kurşun asetat (PbAc), oksidatif stres, inflamasyon ve apoptoz yoluyla kardiyotoksisiteye neden olduğu bilinen bir çevresel toksindir. Bu çalışma, PbAc’ye maruz bırakılan sıçanlarda hodan yağının (BO) koruyucu rolünü incelemiştir. Beş grup çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir: Kontrol, PbAc, PbAc + BO-50, PbAc + BO-100 ve BO. Oksidatif stres belirteçleri (malondialdehit (MDA), glutatyon (GSH), süperoksit dismutaz (SOD) ve katalaz (CAT)), inflamatuvar sitokinler (tümör nekroz faktörü-alfa (TNF-α), interlökin-1 beta (IL-1β), interlökin-6 (IL-6) ve nükleer faktör kappa B (NF-κB)) ile apoptotik genler (B hücre lenfoması-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 ilişkili X proteini (Bax) ve Kaspaz-3) ELISA, gerçek zamanlı PCR ve Western blot yöntemleriyle değerlendirildi. PbAc maruziyeti MDA düzeylerini anlamlı olarak artırdı (p<0.0001), BO tedavisi ise doza bağımlı şekilde MDA konsantrasyonlarını azalttı (p<0.0001). Antioksidan enzim aktiviteleri (SOD, CAT, GSH) PbAc grubunda belirgin şekilde azaldı (p<0.0001), ancak BO uygulaması sonrası yeniden düzeldi (p<0.0001). Proinflamatuvar sitokinler TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 ve NF-κB, PbAc tarafından yukarı regüle edildi (p<0.0001) ve BO tedavisi ile anlamlı şekilde baskılandı. Apoptotik gen ekspresyon analizleri, PbAc grubunda Bax ve Kaspaz-3 düzeylerinin artığını, Bcl-2 ekspresyonunun ise azaldığını ortaya koydu (p<0.0001), bu da apoptozisi göstermektedir. BO, Bax ve Kaspaz-3’ü azaltırken Bcl-2’yi yukarı regüle ederek bu değişiklikleri tersine çevirdi (p<0.0001). Western blot sonuçları, BO ile tedavi edilen sıçanlarda NF-κB protein düzeylerinde azalmayı doğruladı (p<0.0001). Bu bulgular, hodan yağının PbAc’nin neden olduğu kardiyak hasarı oksidatif stresi dengeleyerek, inflamasyonu baskılayarak ve apoptozu inhibe ederek hafiflettiğini göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla, hodan yağı ağır metal kaynaklı kardiyotoksisiteye karşı umut verici bir koruyucu strateji sunabilir. Klinik önemini desteklemek için ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

Antioksidanlar , Apoptozis , Hodan yağı , İltihaplanma , Kardiyotoksisite , Kurşun asetat

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