Histopathological Effect of Sodium Nitrate in Albino Mice Treated With Alpha Lipoic Acid

Abstract

Food additives play a very important role as colorants, preservatives, antioxidants, acidity regulators, thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, anti-caking agents and flavor enhancers. Sodium nitrate is usually used as a food preservative and color fixative. In this study we use alpha lipoic acid to prevent toxic effect of sodium nitrate. A total of eighty adult males and females Swiss Albino mice, aged 7-8 weeks, were divided into four groups as follows: The 1st group administrated orally with drinking water 1/10LD50 (302.2 mg/kg B.W.) of sodium nitrate daily for 8 days. The 2nd group administrated orally with 30 mg/kg B.W of α-lipoic acid. The 3rd group administrated orally with both 1/10LD50 (302.2 mg/kg B.W.) of sodium nitrate and 30 mg/kg B.W of α-lipoic acid.4th group was control negative group. This study showed that levels of sodium nitrate lead to increase ALT and AST, significantly (P<0.05) in (G1and G3) as compared to (G2) and control group as well as increase in urea and creatinine significantly (P<0.05) in (G1and G3) as compared to (G2) and control group while total protein decrease significantly (P<0.05) in (G1and G3) as compared to (G2) and control group. The histopathological examination showed severe lesion in liver and kidney such as granuloma, necrosis, hyaline casts, and degeneration.