Ameliorative effect of Triticum aestivum Linn against experimentally induced arsenic toxicity in male albino rats

The present study evaluated the effect of Wheatgrass extract against arsenic induced toxicity in male albino rats. Wheatgrass extract (200 and 400mg/kg) was administered orally to rats for 20 consecutive days before oral administration of sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg) for 8 days. Then the body weights, organ weights, haematological profiles, serum biochemical profile; hepatic and renal antioxidative parameters viz. lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase and catalase were evaluated. Pretreatment with Wheatgrass extract markedly and significantly normalized body weights, organ weights, haematological profiles, serum biochemical profile and significantly modulated all the hepatic and renal biochemical parameters. Cystic degeneration in the tubular region and mild tubular hemorrhage in kidney, hepatic degeneration and disturbance of sinusoids in the liver was observed after exposure to arsenic. Treatment with Wheat grass extract ameliorated the changes induced by arsenic. The present findings conclude that Wheat grass extract possessed remarkable effect against arsenic induced organ toxicity in male albino rats mediated by alleviation of arsenic induced oxidative stress by enhancing the anti-oxidant defense mechanism and also by detoxification of free radicals generated in the body.