Hepatorenal Protective role of Red and White Onion in Albino Wistar Rats
Shyamala Nayak1, Nayanatara Arun Kumar2*, Anupama Hegde1, Rekha D Kini2,
Reshma Kumarchandra1, Vandana Blossom3, Shivanand Pai4
1Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
2Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
3Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
4Department of Neurology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
4Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: nayanatara.arun@manipal.edu
ABSTRACT:
Allium cepa Linn (Onion) is a widely used organosulfur dietary compound having profound medicinal benefits. Eighteen Albino Wistar rats weighing 150-200g were divided into three different groups (n=6; n= number of animals in each group). Normal Control (Group I) was administered with 1 ml distilled water. Group II rats were treated with red onion extract (500mg/kg body weight) and the rats belonging to Group III, received white onion extract (500mg/kg body weight). The treatment was given orally once in a day for 30 days. At the end of the 30th day, the animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture and were analyzed for liver function test and kidney function test. The histological changes in the liver and the kidneys were also observed. Total cholesterol (P<0.05), TG(P<0.001) and LDL(P<0.001) level significantly decreased (P<0.001) in the red onion group compared to the white onion group. Red onion treated groups showed significant reduction (P<0.001) in the level of urea, creatinine and uric acid when compared to white onion treated group. Alkaline phosphate significantly reduced (P<0.001) in red onion treated when compared to white onion treated group. All the findings were well supported by the histological analysis. In conclusion, our study evaluated the protective effect of red onion and white onion. However, in comparison, red onion treated group showed better protective role when compared to white onion.
KEYWORDS: Red onion, White onion, Hepatorenal, Lipid profile, Liver enzymes, Kidney function test.
INTRODUCTION:
Reactive oxygen species plays a prime role in modulation of cell survival. During oxidative stress hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity occurs due to the generation of free radicals1. Invitro and invivo agents can directly or indirectly influence the functioning of liver and kidneys. Stress induced membrane damage leads to hepatic and renal tissue damage leading to abnormal liver enzymes and serum lipid profile2.
Through the mechanism of scavenging action the naturally available antioxidants either causes the delaying or inhibition of the oxidative reactions. The action is due to the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, and terpenoids and alkaloids3. Medicinal plants contains many antioxidants4. Moreover, the presence of essential oils in these plants, act as a rich sources of antioxidant components possessing various biological activities5. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is consumed worldwide and has various medicinal values6-7. Studies are less exploring the comparative profile of red onion and white onion. This study was designed to assess the comparative effectiveness of red and white onion on liver and kidneys in wistar albino rats.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Ethical approval:
All the procedures of this experiments were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical (IAEC)Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (File No: KMC/MNG/IAEC/19-2018). Each procedures conducted in the study were according to guidelines proposed by the Committee for Control and supervision of experimentation on animals (CPCSEA), Government of India.
Experimental design:
Adult Wistar albino rats weighing 150-200grams were used. The animals were obtained from the central animal house of our institution and acclimatized for two weeks . All the animals were maintained at 25±2°C temperature with 12h of light and dark cycles with free access to food (commercial rat pellets from VRK nutritional solutions, India) and water. A volume of 1ml of aqueous solution of red and white onion bulb extract was administered to the study group by oral gavage once in a day.
Grouping of Animals:
Eighteen Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups (n=6; n= number of animals in each group). Group I ( Normal control ) rats were treated with normal saline. Group II (Red onion treated )rats received 500 mg/kg body weight red onion bulb extract in 1ml distilled water once a day orally and Group III: (White onion treated) rats received 500mg/kg body weight White onion bulb extract dissolved in 1ml distilled water orally each day during treatment session
Procurement Onion Powder:
Red and white onion powder received as the Gift sample from Mevive International TM Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
Toxicity study and Dosage fixation8:
Wistar rats were fasted overnight (water withheld for 3–4hours) and fixed doses of onion powder dissolved in distilled water 2ml with the dosage as per 50, 200, 400, 500, 1000 and 2000mg/kg body weight were administered by gavage via canula intubation. The extract was tolerated as no death was found up to the maximum dose administered. Rats were observed individually after dosing for the first 30minutes periodically, and daily thereafter for 14days for any toxicity signs such as gross changes in the skin, fur, eyes, mucous membranes, or circulatory, respiratory, autonomic, and central nervous systems, or changes in behavior pattern. On the basis of earlier studies report and our observation the effective dose of 500mg/kg body weight was selected for red onion and white onion. The treatment was given for 30 days.
Preparation of sample9-11:
At the end of the 30th day the animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture and were analyzed for Liver function and renal function using diagnostic Agappe Kit methord. Tissue samples collected were used to explore the histological features. The blood sample was collected directly via cardiac puncture, under aseptic precautions. Lipid profile (Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), HDL (High density lipoproteins), LDL (Low density lipoproteins ), Renal function test (Blood Urea, Serum creatinine, Serum Uric acid) were assayed using commercial kits (Agappe diagnostics).
Histology of liver and kidneys:
The excised liver and the kidney tissue was stored in 10% formalin for 48hours for the process of fixation. Once the fixation has been done the paraffin blocks were made. Sections of liver and kidneys was done using rotary microtome of thickness about 6-7μ thickness were made and the sections were stained with crystal violet stain
Statistical analysis:
Results are expressed as mean±SD and comparisons between groups were made by means of an unpaired Student’s t-test. Differences were considered significant at P< 0.05.
RESULTS:
Total cholesterol (P<0.05, Fig-1), TG (P<0.001; Fig -2) and LDL (P<0.001, Fig-3) was found to be significantly reduced in red onion treated group when compared to white onion treated group. HDL level (Fig-4) did not show any significant changes when compared to the control group. However, non-significant increase in the red onion treated rats was observed when compared to the white onion treated rats. In the renal function test it was observed that the red onion treated groups showed significant (P<0.001) reduced levels of urea (Fig-5), creatinine (Fig-6), uric acid (Fig-7) when compared to white onion treated group. Alkaline phosphatase (Table-1) significantly reduced (P<0.001) in red onion treated group. However there was no significant changes observed treated group. In the control group of rats, normal liver morphology with a regular cord-like arrangement of hepatocytes with sinusoids were observed. Central vein hepatocyte and sinusoids were observed to be near to normal in the red onion treated group when compared with the white onion treated group with and negligible amount of cell crowding (Fig-8). Normal kidney morphology with a regular glomerular arrangement proximal and distal convoluted tubes was observed in control group. Near to the normal arrangement of cortex and medulla with no signs of acute Kidney Injury or acute tubular damage was observed in the treated groups (Fig-9)
Figure 1: Comparative level of serum cholesterol level in red onion and white onion treated groups
*P<0.05; Control versus red onion
♠P<0.05; Red onion versus red onion
Figure 2: Comparative level of serum triglyceride in red onion and white onion treated groups
***P<0.05 ; Control versus red onion
♠♠♠P<0.0001 ; Red onion versus white onion
Figure 3: Comparative level of serum LDL in red onion and white onion treated groups
***P<0.05; Control versus red onion
♠♠♠P<0.0001; Red onion versus white onion
Figure 4: Comparative level of HDL-C in red onion and white onion treated groups
Figure. 5. Comparative level of blood urea in red onion and white onion treated groups
♠♠♠P<0.0001 ; Red onion versus white onion
Figure 6: Comparative level of serum creatinine in red onion and white onion treated groups
♠♠♠P<0.0001 ; Red onion versus white onion
Figure. 7. Comparative level of serum uric acid in red onion and white onion treated groups
***P<0.05; Control versus red onion
♠♠♠P<0.0001; Red onion versus white onion
Table 1: Comparative level of liver enzymes in red onion and white onion treated groups
|
Parameters |
Groups |
||
|
Group I |
Group II |
Group III |
|
|
Liver enzymes |
|
|
|
|
S.G.O.T. (Aspartate transaminase) (U/L) |
228.33±0.81 |
209.5±1.04 |
254.5±3.88 |
|
S.G.P.T (Alanine Aminotransferase) (U/L) |
67±1.67 |
52.5±1.04 |
72.66±1.36 |
|
S. Alkaline Phosphatase (IU/L) |
525.83±2.85 |
267.5±1.51♠♠♠ |
493.83±2.13 |
|
Serum. Total protein (g/dl) |
6.23±0.10 |
6.15±0.10 |
6.13±0.12 |
|
Serum Albumin (g/dl) |
3.23±0.15 |
3.18±0.09 |
3.21±0.11 |
|
Serum Globulin (g/dl) |
3±0.17 |
2.96±0.15 |
2.91±0.11 |
|
A/G ratio |
1.08±0.11 |
1.07±0.07 |
1.1±0.07 |
♠♠♠P<0.0001 ; Red onion versus white onion
Figure 8: Histology of the Liver
Figure 9: Histology of the kidney
DISCUSSION:
Present data explores the comparative profile of the protective role of red onion and white onion on kidney and liver in the normal rats. In this study, we used normal rats because in future this might possess some predictive validity as a nutritive supplement targeting major tissues. Liver plays an important role to synthesize important molecules including plasma proteins. The liver enzymes significantly reduced in red onion treated when compared to white onion treated group. However there was no significant changes observed in the level of total protein, albumin and globulin among the three groups. The total cholesterol, TG, VLDL and LDL-C was found to be reduced in red onion treated when compared to white onion treated group. There was no significant changes were observed in HDL-C level among the treated group. Comparative potency of hepatoprotective role of red onion was also seen in the histological analysis. However more protective role was observed in the red onion group. Protective role of the various herbal extracts has been well documented in the previous research based on the presence of active principles such as Scopoletin, coumarin, and isoopulegol having its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Hyperlipidemic, and anti-bacteria activities.12-13
Kidneys is one of the major organ responsible which plays an important role in maintaining electrolyte balance and metabolism. creatinine and urea are used are the potent markers which help in knowing the progression and diagnosis of diseases associated with the kidneys. The imbalance of these markers in the blood indicate damage to the kidneys. In the present study, it was observed that the red onion treated groups showed reduced levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid when compared to white onion treated group. This was further supported by the histological observation. The ameliorative potential of red onion and white onion could be attributable to the presence of important phytochemicals14-15 Natural substances serve as potential antioxidants16-17. Onions are an important source of several phytonutrients and high levels of phenolic compounds having antioxidant properties and beneficial effects against various pathologies. Flavonoids are the major phenolics in onions. Red onion and white onions is the prime part of the nutritious diet. The present research concludes that, comparatively red onion could be used as a hepatoprotective and nephroprotective agents in various cases of liver injury and kidney injury. However, In depth studies are needed to differentiating the role of red onion and white onion in various disease models.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
All the authors thank the Manipal Academy of Higher Education for providing all the support and the facilities needed for this research work. The authors also thank Mevive International TM Coimbatore, Tamilnadu for providing the gift sample.
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Received on 29.10.2022 Modified on 09.12.2022
Accepted on 03.01.2023 © RJPT All right reserved
Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2023; 16(11):5250-5254.
DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2023.00851