Puerarin attenuates polystyrene (PS-MPs) induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage in a Rat model
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 2Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 3Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 4Central Research Laboratory, Vice Rectorate for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that pose significant environmental and health concerns attributed to environmental persistence and potential ecotoxicity. The study assessed the protective efficacy of puerarin(Pr), a major isoflavone extracted from Pueraria lobata roots against microplastic toxicity in rats. Male albino rats (n = 42), were exposed to carboxylated polystyrene beads in two sizes, 1µm, and 5 µm for 28 days. Group I was the negative control. Groups III and IV received 1μm and 5 μm PS beads respectively while Group V and VI received the PS beads respectively along with a single oral dose of puerarin (10 mg/kg body weight). Microplastic intoxication with both sizes of PS-MP beads (1 µm and 5 µm) led to oxidative stress. Additionally, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase was also observed in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the pro-apoptotic proteins. The hepatic expression of p53 was significantly reduced coupled with the suppression of Nrf-2 followed by a downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. The DNA damage was observable with distinct comets on exposure to both sizes of MPs compared to the control. These results suggest that puerarin at the tested dosage alleviates oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage in rats caused by PS-MPs. However, further investigations on different doses and extended exposure duration could establish dose-response correlation and translational significance.
Related
- Tragopogon coelesyriacus Boiss. attenuates ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in vivo: modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis
- Adeno-Associated Virus Mediated Expression of Bcl-xL Attenuates Apoptosis in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
- Camk2d upregulation is associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats: pharmacological inhibition of CaMKII attenuates hippocampal neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis
- In vivo Nupr1 regulates oxidative stress–endoplasmic reticulum stress crosstalk and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in varicocele-related testicular injury
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Attenuates Dichlorvos-Induced Neurobehavioral and Oxido-Inflammatory Stress in Discrete Brain Regions
BibTeX
@article{alqhtani2026puerarin,
title = {{Puerarin attenuates polystyrene (PS-MPs) induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage in a Rat model}},
author = {Ebtesam Abdullah Alqhtani and Promy Virk and Rawan Matar Al-Harbi and Mai Elobeid and Seham Soliman Alterary and Weam Ibrahim Al-nogair and Manal Qayyadh Saad Alanazi and Ramesa Shafi Bhat and Nada M. Merghani and Dalia Fouad},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0355931},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0355931},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Puerarin attenuates polystyrene (PS-MPs) induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage in a Rat model
AU - Ebtesam Abdullah Alqhtani
AU - Promy Virk
AU - Rawan Matar Al-Harbi
AU - Mai Elobeid
AU - Seham Soliman Alterary
AU - Weam Ibrahim Al-nogair
AU - Manal Qayyadh Saad Alanazi
AU - Ramesa Shafi Bhat
AU - Nada M. Merghani
AU - Dalia Fouad
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0355931
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0355931
AB - Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that pose significant environmental and health concerns attributed to environmental persistence and potential ecotoxicity. The study assessed the protective efficacy of puerarin(Pr), a major isoflavone extracted from Pueraria lobata roots against microplastic toxicity in rats. Male albino rats (n = 42), were exposed to carboxylated polystyrene beads in two sizes, 1µm, and 5 µm for 28 days. Group I was the negative control. Groups III and IV received 1μm and 5 μm PS beads respectively while Group V and VI received the PS beads respectively along with a single oral dose of puerarin (10 mg/kg body weight). Microplastic intoxication with both sizes of PS-MP beads (1 µm and 5 µm) led to oxidative stress. Additionally, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase was also observed in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the pro-apoptotic proteins. The hepatic expression of p53 was significantly reduced coupled with the suppression of Nrf-2 followed by a downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. The DNA damage was observable with distinct comets on exposure to both sizes of MPs compared to the control. These results suggest that puerarin at the tested dosage alleviates oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage in rats caused by PS-MPs. However, further investigations on different doses and extended exposure duration could establish dose-response correlation and translational significance.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -