Myricetin ameliorates arsenic-induced hematological changes, immune dysfunction, oxidative stress, hepatic and renal injuries and promotes inflammatory genes in rats

Background: Arsenic (ARS) is a toxic heavy metal that poses a significant concern for both animal and human health. Aim: The study investigated the ameliorative effect of myricetin (MRC) against arsenic-induced immune dysfunction, oxidative stress, hematological changes, hepatic and renal injuries, and inflammatory gene expression in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups: the control group (CON) received orally administered distilled water (1 ml/rat), and the ARS group received 10 mg/kg orally, the MRC group received 5 mg of MRC/kg orally, and the co-treated group (ARS+MRC) received 10 mg/kg of ARS and 5 mg/kg b.w. of MRC orally. Results: The results showed that co-treatment of ARS-exposed rats with MRC significantly corrected erythrocyte parameters (except MCV) and leukocyte parameters (except basophils; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ARS group significantly reduced total proteins and globulins while significantly increasing liver functions and uric acid levels (p < 0.05). Co-administration with MRC significantly mitigated the heart indices (gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatine phosphokinase, CK, lactate dehydrogenase) and lipid dysfunction caused by ARS exposure (p < 0.05). In ARS-exposed rats, there was a significant reduction in antioxidant enzymes and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), as well as significantly increased oxidative stress (p < 0.05). The MRC treatment effectively restored the redox status and immune variables that were disrupted by ARS exposure. Serum levels of nitric acid and lysosome were significantly lower, while levels of IL-4, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma were higher in the ARS group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Immunohistopathology revealed that the expression of Cox2 in kidney and liver tissues varied from mild to moderate in the ARS+MRC group. Furthermore, the ARS-induced upregulation of mRNA levels of inflammatory genes such as IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-6 in hepatic tissues and MRC significantly attenuated this elevation. These findings suggest that ARS has detrimental effects on blood hematology and health, triggering specific inflammatory genes and indicating the genotoxicity of ARS. However, co-treatment with MYC can mitigate these negative effects. Conclusion: MRC exhibits a significant protective effect against ARS due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.