Eco-friendly synthesis and assessment of chrysin – primed zinc ferrite nanoparticles against vinyl chloride and 2-acetylaminofluorene model of hepatorenal injury in rats

Co-exposure to environmental toxicants is becoming an emerging problem globally. This study investigated the potential of chrysin-primed zinc-ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4@Chrysin) to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation in vinyl chloride (VC) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced liver and kidney toxicities in male Wistar rats. ZnFe2O4@Chrysin was identified using x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron micrographs. Molecular orbital distributions in chrysin were determined using Density Functional Theorem analyses. Forty –two rats were placed in six groups of seven animals each, and orally administered with ZnFe2O4@Chrysin (10, 20, 50 mg/kg), VC (50 mg/kg) and 2-AAF (30 mg/kg) over a period of 28 days. Liver and kidney function, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine and cancer parameters were evaluated. Treatment with ZnFe2O4@Chrysin ameliorated the VC + 2-AAF induced elevations in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride, urea, uric acid, and sodium and potassium levels. VC + 2-AAF also caused significant elevations in superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase levels which were restored by ZnFe2O4@Chrysin. Elevated levels of alpha fetoprotein, C-reactive protein (CRP) and thyroid stimulating hormone in VC + 2-AAF treated rats were significantly reversed by ZnFe2O4@Chrysin. ZnFe2O4@Chrysin also restored the histoarchitecture of the kidney and liver of rats exposed to VC + 2-AAF. This study suggests that ZnFe2O4@Chrysin offered protection against VC and 2-AAF induced alterations in biochemical indices of rats via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.