Biochemical Modulatory and Protective Effects of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Scrophularia striata on the Hepatotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles in the Rat Model

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various products. On the other hand, they can cause a variety of toxicity in living organisms, such as biochemical changes and oxidative stress in the liver. Scroph-ularia striata plant can affect the toxicity of AgNPs in diverse parts of the body due to the potent antioxidant compounds.

The present study aimed to investigate the modulatory impact of the hydroalcoholic extract of Scrophularia striata on the hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by AgNPs in male Wistar rats. The measured hepatic enzymes and serum biochemical metabolites included alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, albumin, Globulin, total protein, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin. In addition, the assessed blood oxidative stress markers entailed malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

A total of 30 male rats with an average weight of 200±20 g were randomly assigned to five experi-mental groups of six. Animals in group 1 as the negative control received 2 ml distilled water and in group 2 as positive control received 200 ppm AgNPs (i.e., hepatotoxic dose). The rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 received 20, 60, and 180 mg/kg Scrophularia striata extract and 200 ppm AgNPs in 30 days, respectively. The animals were sacri-ficed under slight anesthesia 24 h after the last treatment.

Hepatic enzymes, serum biochemical metabolites, and oxidative stress markers, mainly CAT, SOD, and GPx in groups 4 and 5 were significantly different from the positive and negative control groups (p <0.05).

Scrophularia striata plant owing to the presence of some special ingredients, such as flavonoids can compensate for the side effects of AgNPs in the body.