The Protective Effects of Portulaca oleracea L. Leaves Extract Against Lead Toxicity in Experimental Rats

This study examined the protective effect of portulaca oleracea leaves extract against lead toxicity in experimental rats during the growth period. Twenty-eight albino rats randomly divided to four groups, 7 rats in each group. First group G1 feed on the basal diet, considered as negative control group. Rest of the rats 21 rats were exposed to lead toxicity using lead acetate at a 200 mg/kg diet, classified to three groups. Second group  G2 untreated rats were fed only the diet contained lead acetate as a positive control group, third and fourth groups G3 and G4 rats were fed a diet contained lead acetate and treated with daily intraperitoneally ethanol extract of portulaca oleracea at 1 g/kg b.w and 2 g/kg b.w respectively. The experiment period was 6 weeks. Results of the study showed a significantly increasing in indicators of liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and lipid peroxidation. Rats treated with portulaca oleracea extract showed  a noticeable improvement in liver functions as evidenced by a  significantly reducing in liver enzymes as well as a reduction in total cholesterol and triglycerides in serum. Improvements in kidney functions were also shown in all examined groups comparing to G2 by a significantly decreasing in urea and creatinine levels. Lead administration caused a significantly reduction in antioxidant enzymes activities associated with increasing MDA level. On the contrary, portulaca oleracea extract treated groups showed improvement in antioxidant activity. It can be concluded that portulaca oleracea extract showed a significantly protection against lead toxicity. The improvement was evident in the changes induced by exposure to lead acetate in the groups of rats that treated with portulaca oleracea extract. Results scientifically proved that portulaca oleracea leaves have significant therapeutic effects against intoxication caused by lead acetate. Portulaca oleracea have potential health benefits as a functional supplement that has a role in liver and renal protection and enhancing the antioxidant system against lead toxicity.