The effectiveness of chitosan- Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle as antioxidant and anti-caspase 3 in against lead acetate toxicity on the lung of wistar rat

Background: The antioxidants can be used for protective in oxidative stress that is one of the important mechanisms of lead acetate-induced lung toxicity. Objective: The current study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of Chitosan- Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle as antioxidant and anti-caspase 3 in against lead acetate-induced lung toxicity on wistar rats. Methods: Chitosan- Pinus merkusii nanoparticle were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The male rats were divided into control group (Rats were given with distilled water); lead acetate group (Rats were injected with lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW i.p) and the treatment group (Rats were given the Chitosan- Pinus merkusii nanoparticle 150 mg; 300 mg; 600 mg/kg BW orally and were injected with lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW). The lung tissues were collected to evaluate the malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), histological evaluations of lung damage and immunohistochemical of the expression of caspase 3. Results: The results of DLS showed that the size of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle was 430.5±24.8 nm. SEM images of the Chitosan- Pinus merkusii nanoparticles showed an irregular shape and the morphology surface showed the rough surface. Administration of lead acetate resulted in a significant increase in MDA level, caspase 3 expression and decrease in level of SOD and GPx. Treatment with the Chitosan- Pinus merkusii nanoparticle 600 mg/kg BW but not 150 and 300 mg/kg BW significantly decreased the MDA levels, caspase 3 expression and also increase in level of SOD and GPx were compared with lead acetate group. The lead acetate-induced thickened the alveolar septa and loss of the normal structure of lung cells (Necrosis), whereas treated with Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle inhibited lung cell necrosis. Conclusion: From the results of this study demonstrated that Chitosan- Pinus merkusii nanoparticle could be a potent against lead acetate- induced lung toxicity, through increasing antioxidant and inhibiting caspase 3 expression.