@article{article_1774021, title={The Effect of Borage Oil (Borago officinalis) on Lead Acetate-Induced Cardiotoxicity}, journal={Van Veterinary Journal}, volume={36}, pages={254–260}, year={2025}, DOI={10.36483/vanvetj.1774021}, url={https://izlik.org/JA82GN93HY}, author={Bolat, Merve and Bolat, İsmail and Tekin, Samet and Çelebi, Fikret}, keywords={Antioksidanlar, Apoptozis, Hodan yağı, İltihaplanma, Kardiyotoksisite, Kurşun asetat}, 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.}, number={3}