The effect of Ulva rigida (C. Agardh, 1823) against cadmium-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress

Cadmium (Cd) is known as a pollutant source in recent years with the increase in industrialization. Algae have secondary metabolites with high biological activity, used for pharmaceutical agents. The liver and kidney are the primary organs involved in the elimination of systemic cadmium and the main targets of cadmium toxicity. In the previous research, it was determined the ameliorative effects of the extract obtained from Ulva rigida in the liver tissue of rats induced by cadmium. 35 female Wistar rats between 225-240 g were used. The subjects were injected subcutaneously with 1 mg/kg cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) four times a week for four weeks. The study was carried out by groups as control (G1), Cadmium group (1 mg/kg CdCl₂-G2), Algae group (100 mg/kg-G3), Cd+algae group (1 mg/kg CdCl₂+50 mg/kg algae extract-G4) and Cd+algae group (1 mg/kg CdCl₂+100 mg/kg algae extract -G5). The subjects were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Liver tissue and cardiac blood were collected. It was determined that oxidative stress with iNOS, inflammation and apoptosis with TNF-α increased with cadmium induction, while there was a statistically significant decrease in the groups that were given algae extract. In addition, biochemical changes in SOD, CAT and MDA values were found to be significant (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that algae extract could play a protective role with its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties in experimentally induced cadmium toxicity in rats.