Protective effect of ethanolic extract of galangal root against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in a rat model

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of animal production Technologies, College of agricultural Technique , Northern Technical University, Mosul, Iraq

2 Department of Pharmacy Technique , Northern Technical University, Mosul, Iraq

3 Department of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology, Veterinary Medicine College, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

10.22103/jab.2025.24986.1680

Abstract

Objective
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal with detrimental effects on various biological systems. Herbal extracts, due to their antioxidant properties, may help mitigate such toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Alpinia galanga (galangal) root ethanolic extract against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in a rat model.
Materials and Methods
Forty male rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group). Group 1 (control) received normal drinking water and diet for 30 days. Group 2 was administered 100 mg/kg of A. galanga hydroalcoholic extract orally. Group 3 received 0.5 ppm cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) in drinking water. Group 4 received both 0.5 ppm CdCl₂ in water and 100 mg/kg A. galanga extract orally for 30 days.
Results
Cadmium exposure significantly increased brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (1.6364 ± 0.01) compared to the control group (0.7247 ± 0.005, p = 0.001), while MDA levels in the A. galanga-treated rats were comparable to controls. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were significantly reduced in the cadmium group (10.5098 ± 1.5) and the cadmium + extract group (15.9569 ± 1.5) compared to controls (p = 0.023). Gene expression analysis showed a significant downregulation of catalase in the cadmium (0.74 ± 0.2) and cadmium + extract (0.83 ± 0.19) groups relative to the control (1.05 ± 0.25) and extract-only (0.94 ± 0.21) groups (p < 0.05). Glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression was also significantly reduced in the cadmium group (1.05 ± 0.05) compared to the control (1.94 ± 0.1), but co-administration with A. galanga restored GST levels (1.47 ± 0.09, p < 0.05). A similar trend was observed for GSH-Px expression, which decreased significantly in the cadmium group (0.97 ± 0.05) and improved with A. galanga treatment (1.34 ± 0.12) compared to the control (2.19 ± 0.15, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that cadmium exerts neurotoxic effects through oxidative stress mechanisms, and that Alpinia galanga root extract possesses significant antioxidant properties capable of mitigating cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 17, Issue 2
May 2025
Pages 133-150

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