The protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on cadmium-induced liver toxicity: A histopathological and biochemical study

In this study, the changes caused by caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in the histopathological and biochemical parameters in the oxidant / antioxidant balance in mice with experimental cadmium toxicity were investigated. A total of 40 female Swiss albino mice were used, with 10 mice in each group. The mice were divided into four groups (Group I - Control group, Group II - CAPE group, Group III - Cadmium group, Group IV - Cadmium + CAPE group). Plasma paraoxonase (PON) activity, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total sialic acid (TSA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were analyzed on mice's blood samples. The results showed that cadmium intoxication triggered oxidative stress in the mice. It also lowered their PON activity alongside TAC and HDL levels (P<0.001, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively) and increased their TSA, LDL, TOC, and OSI levels (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively). The histopathological examination of the liver tissues revealed focal apoptotic regions, sinusoidal occlusion, and irregularity in the cadmium group and no significant change in the other groups. These results indicated that CAPE can significantly prevent biochemical and histopathological changes due to cadmium damage.