Introduction: Ethylene glycol, a common ripening agent for fruits can induce oxidative damage to healthy tissues, which can lead to organ failure. However, milk thistle, a plant with traditional medicinal use, can eliminate harmful free radicals and regulate inflammatory reactions.
Aim of the Work: In this work, the efficacies of milk thistle aqueous extract to mitigate the detrimental effects of ethylene glycol on the organs of male albino rats were explored.
Materials and Methods: Four groups of forty rats were allocated as control group (G1), milk thistle extract treated group (G2) received a daily intake of 151.2 mg/kg milk thistle for 1month, G3 received ethylene glycol to induce toxicity (2 ml/kg/day for 3 days), and G4 received both ethylene glycol and milk thistle extract. Biochemical analysis for blood samples as liver function (ALT, AST and ALP), total protein and albumin, kidney function (urea and creatinine), mineral levels (Ca++ and P) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant Capacity (SOD, CAT and TAC). Histological examination was performed on liver, kidney and lung tissues collected from the rats.
Results: The exposure to EG increased MDA, ALT, AST, ALP, total protein, urea, creatinine, minerals, while reducing antioxidant markers levels, indicating oxidative stress, liver dysfunction, as well as acute renal failure with crystal deposition and primary pulmonary toxicity. Treatment with ethylene glycol and milk thistle extract (G4) resulted in significant improvements, marked by significant increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, decreased levels of MDA, ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, minerals in the serum, and improved histological structure of the liver, kidney, and lung tissues, indicating tissue recovery.
Conclusion: Milk thistle extract relieve ethylene glycol-induced hepatic, renal and pulmonary toxicity, via increasing antioxidants and decreasing lipid peroxidation.