Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the royal jelly (RJ) on hepatotoxicity induced by molybdenum nanoparticles (MoO3-NPs), cadmium chloride (CdCl2), or their combination in male rats at biochemical, inflammation, immune response, histological, and ultrastructural levels. The physicochemical properties of MoO3-NPs have been characterized, as well as their ultrastructural organization. A rat experimental model was employed to assess the liver toxicity of MoO3-NPs, even in combination with CdCl2. Different cellular studies indicate divergent mechanisms, from increased reactive oxygen species production to antioxidative damage and cytoprotective activity. Seventy male rats were allocated to groups: (i) control; (ii) MoO3-NPs (500 mg/kg); (iii) CdCl2 (6.5 mg/kg); (iv) RJ (85 mg/kg diluted in saline); (v) MoO3-NPs followed by RJ (30 min after the MoO3-NPs dose); (vi) CdCl2 followed by RJ; and (vii) a combination of MoO3-NPs and CdCl2, followed by RJ, for a total of 30 successive days. Hepatic functions, lipid profile, inflammation marker (CRP), antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, CAT, GPx, and MDA), and genotoxicity were examined. Histological changes, an immunological marker for caspase-3, and transmission electron microscope variations in the liver were also investigated to indicate liver status. The results showed that RJ alleviated the hepatotoxicity of MoO3-NPs and/or CdCl2 by improving all hepatic vitality markers. In conclusion, the RJ was more potent and effective as an antioxidant over the oxidative damage induced by the combination of MoO3-NPs and CdCl2.