Attenuation of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate-induced hepatic and renal toxicity by naringin nanoparticles in a rat model

This study assessed the protective effect of citrus flavanone, naringin (Nar), and its nanoformulation against di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) toxicity in albino rats. Keeping green nanotechnology as the cornerstone, nanoparticles of Nar were synthesized and characterized using electron microscopy (transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy), particle size distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The synthesized nanoparticles were primarily spherical with an average size of 109nm and a low polydispersity index of 0.175. Mature male albino rats were used for the exposure study. Group I was negative control. Groups II, III, and IV were exposed to (250mg center dot kg b center dot wt-1) DEHP for 3 weeks. Group III was treated with bulk Nar (5mg center dot kg b center dot wt-1), and group IV was treated with non-naringin (NNar) (5mg center dot kg b center dot wt-1). Group V was exposed only to NNar. Exposure to DEHP significantly enhanced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 beta, 6, 8 (IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a). In addition, the repression of hepatic mRNA expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 was also observed. In addition, marked histopathological alterationswere observed in the hepatic and renal tissues. Treatment with both Nar and NNar significantly alleviated the DEHP-induced oxidative stress/inflammatory response along with the associated histological alterations. However, therapeutic utility of NNar was more profound underlining its potential in nutraceutical therapeutics with high green credentials.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the protective effect of citrus flavanone, naringin, and its nanoformulation against di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) toxicity in albino rats. Nanoparticles of naringin were synthesized and characterized, and their therapeutic utility in alleviating DEHP-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response was demonstrated. The results indicate that naringin nanoparticles have potential in nutraceutical therapeutics with high environmental credentials.