Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is an important industrial pollutant, even though its mechanism of toxicity has not been completely clarified. Although Cd²⁺ is toxic to a wide range of organs and tissues, liver and kidneys are the primary target organs of cadmium toxicity. Cd²⁺ induces apoptosis, mitotic activity of cells and also causes necrotic cell death in certain pathophysiological situations. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench stimulates the production of immunoglobulins and/or interferons by stimulating one or another link of the immune system. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of the liquid extract ofEchinacea purpurea on the accumulation of Cd²⁺ in liver, kidney and on the mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells after the chronic intraperitoneal intoxication by Cd²⁺. The experiments were performed on white laboratory mice using intraperitoneal injections of 0.05 LD₅₀ of cadmium chloride solution. Two groups of mice were injected with Echinacea purpurea liquid extract of different concentrations - 0.05 LD₅₀ and 0.1 LD₅₀. Mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells was expressed as an estimated number of mitotic and apoptotic liver cells in randomly selected reference areas in a histological slide. Cd ²⁺concentration in mice liver and kidney was detected using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Long-term injections of Echinacea purpurea extract combined with CdCl₂ lead to a significant increase in cadmium concentration in the liver and kidney of experimental mice.Echinacea purpurea decreased the cadmium-induced mitotic activity of liver cells, and increased the apoptotic activity of these cells. Long-term exposure to Cd²⁺ results in the formation of the foci of necrosis in liver, which may be reduced by the application ofEchinacea purpurea extract.

Key words: cadmium, Echinacea purpurea, mice, mitotic and apoptotic liver cells, atomic absorption spectroscopy.