الملخص

Industrial effluents/ wastewater is a primary source of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination in the environment. This pollutant, widely used in various industries, is highly toxic and persistent, making it one of the most significant global environmental concerns. Its hexavalent form is carcinogenic, genotoxic, and mutagenic, with exposure linked to respiratory issues, organ damage, and DNA mutations. However, milk thistle, a plant with traditional medicinal use, can eliminate harmful free radicals and regulate inflammatory reactions. Milk Thistle has showed protective and treated effects in different models of disease. Thus, we hypothesized that silymarin would be protective against chromium(VI) induced liver and kidney injury.

Twenty four male albino rats were divided into four groups and allocated as control group (G1)was treated orally with normal saline for 4 weeks, milk thistle aqueous extract treated group (G2) received potassium dichromate to induce toxicity (2 mg/kg/ day for 4 weeks),  G3 received a daily intake of 200 mg/kg milk thistle for 4 weeks,  and G4 received both potassium dichromate and milk thistle extract. Biochemical analysis for blood samples as liver function (ALT, AST and ALP), kidney function (urea and creatinine) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant Capacity (CAT). The exposure to Cr(VI)  increased malondialdehyde (MDA), ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, while reducing antioxidant markers levels, indicating oxidative stress, liver dysfunction. Protective role of milk thistle extract with Cr(VI) (G4) resulted in significant improvements, marked by significant increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, decreased levels of MDA, ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, in the serum. Milk thistle extract relieve Cr(VI)-induced hepatic and renal toxicity, via increasing antioxidants and decreasing lipid peroxidation