Oleuropein Protects Kidney Against Oxidative and Histopathological Damages in Subchronic Cadmium Intoxicated Mice

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental contaminant leading to serious health hazard to human and animals, directly or by producing reactive oxygen species. Subsequently, the exploration of antioxidants in Cd toxicity is with great interest. Here, we investigated the protective effects of olive leaves oleuropein in reversing Cd induced oxidative stress in the kidney of mice. For this purpose, laboratory male mice (5 weeks old) were used and divided into three groups: the first group (control), the second received intra-peritoneal injection of Cd as CdCl2, administered in four doses during two weeks (each of 0.5 mg Cd/kg body wt.) amounting to a total dose of 2 mg Cd/kg body wt., i.p.; and the third was simultaneously exposed to the same doses of Cd as the first group and simultaneously received 16 mg/kg oleuropein in four doses by oral gavage. The results showed that exposure to Cd significantly affects the kidney biochemical and antioxidant parameters and its histological organization. Furthermore, oleuropein administration restored significantly all the subchronic Cd intoxication features in the mice kidney.