Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of placental extracts in benzo[a]pyrene-exposed rats

Protective effect of placental extracts (PE) on DNA damage induced by BaP in rats. The effect of PE on DNA damage induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was evaluated using a Comet assay to measure single-strand DNA breaks at the single-cell level. BaP treatment increased the Olive Tailmoments above control levels, while pre-treatment with PE prior to BaP exposure significantly decreased the Olive Tailmoments compared to BaP treatment alone. All data represent the mean ± SD of five different rats. ^ap < 0.05 compared to the control rats, ^bp < 0.05 compared to PE-treated rats, ^cp < 0.05 compared to BaP-treated rats, ^dp < 0.05 compared to PE + BaP-treated rats.

The anti-oxidant effect of PE against BaP-induced oxidative stress. Plasma collected from rats exposed to BaP with or without PE pre-treatment was evaluated for oxidative stress markers. (A) The detoxification enzyme, SOD, was measured using commercially available kits. The BaP-induced elevation of SOD was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with PE in the 1-, 2-, and 8-day groups. (B) The levels of lipid peroxidation were evaluated by measuring the amounts of malondialdehyde using a high performance liquid chromatography method. (C) The levels of protein oxidation were evaluated by western blot analysis using an anti-dinitrophenylhydrazine antibody. All data represent the mean ± SD of five different rats. ^ap < 0.05 compared to the control rats, ^bp < 0.05 compared to PE-treated rats, ^cp < 0.05 compared to BaP-treated rats, ^dp < 0.05 compared to PE + BaP-treated rats.

The effect of placental extracts (PE) on immunoglobulin levels in rats exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). (A) Western blot analysis of immunoglobulins in plasma collected from rats exposed to BaP for 1, 2, 4, or 8 days with or without PE pre-treatment using anti-IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. An equal amount of total protein was loaded into each lane. (B, C) Graphs showing changes in the levels of IgG1 and IgG2a in plasma from rats exposed to BaP with or without PE. Densitometric values were normalized using α-tubulin as an internal control. Values are expressed as a percentage of control rats in each group. All data represent the mean ± SD of five different rats. ^ap < 0.05 compared to the control rats, ^bp < 0.05 compared to PE-treated rats, ^cp < 0.05 compared to BaP-treated rats, ^dp < 0.05 compared to PE + BaP-treated rats.

The effect of placental extracts (PE) on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in rats exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). (A) Western blot analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma from rats exposed to BaP for 1, 2, 4, or 8 days with or without PE using anti-TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 antibodies. An equal amount of total protein was loaded into each lane. (B–D) Graphs showing changes in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in plasma from rats exposed to BaP with or without PE. Densitometric values were normalized using tubulin as an internal control. Values are expressed as a percentage of control rats. All data represent the mean ± SD of five different rats. ^ap < 0.05 compared to the control rats, ^bp < 0.05 compared to PE-treated rats, ^cp < 0.05 compared to BaP-treated rats, ^dp < 0.05 compared to PE + BaP-treated rats.