Protective Role of Thymoquinone Against TCE-Induced Liver Damage Through HSP70 Modulation

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Hepatology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a prevalent industrial solvent and environmental pollutant linked to liver damage, oxidative stress, and cancer.
• Identifying effective countermeasures against TCE-induced hepatotoxicity is crucial for public health.
• Thymoquinone (TQ), a compound from Nigella sativa, possesses known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential hepatoprotective effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) against Trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced liver injury in a rat model.
• To assess the impact of TQ on histopathological changes and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) expression in TCE-exposed livers.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into five groups: Control, TCE, TCE+TQ, TQ, and DMSO.
• Liver tissues were examined histopathologically for signs of injury.
• Immunoreactivity for Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70), a marker of cellular stress, was quantified.

Main Results:

• TCE exposure induced significant liver damage, characterized by vascular congestion, necrosis, inflammation, and sinusoidal dilatation.
• HSP70 immunoreactivity was markedly elevated in rats exposed to TCE compared to controls (p<0.05).
• TQ treatment significantly ameliorated TCE-induced histopathological alterations and reduced HSP70 levels (p<0.05), indicating reduced cellular injury.

Conclusions:

• Thymoquinone demonstrates significant hepatoprotective potential against Trichloroethylene-induced liver injury in rats.
• TQ's ability to mitigate liver damage and reduce cellular stress markers like HSP70 warrants further investigation for environmental hepatotoxicity.
• These findings support TQ as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing or treating solvent-induced liver damage.