Gallic acid protects against bisphenol A-induced alterations in the cardio-renal system of Wistar rats through the antioxidant defense mechanism.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a small molecular weight endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that is used in the production of plastics with deleterious effects on various body systems while gallic acid (GA) is a known antioxidant capable of ameliorating EDC-induced perturbations. In this study, adult male rats (180 ± 5 g) were divided into four groups of eight rats each: Group A (Control rats): 0.2 ml of corn oil; Group B (GA-treated rats): 20 mg/kg/day GA (dissolved in distilled water); Group C (BPA-treated rats): 10 mg/kg/day BPA suspended in 0.2 ml corn oil; Group D (BPA + GA-treated rats): BPA (10 mg/kg/day) with a concomitant GA (20 mg/kg/day). All treatments were orally administered for 14 days. BPA induced significant decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure while causing a significant (p < 0.05) increase in heart rate in the rats. It significantly (p < 0.05) raised both renal and cardiac reactive oxygen species and depleted the antioxidant system. There were also significant (p < 0.05) increases in serum myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, urea and creatinine in the BPA-treated rats. Lesions of the heart and kidney including inflammation, vascular congestion and erosion of epithelial cells were also observed in the BPA-treated rats. However, the concomitant treatment with GA ameliorated all the BPA-induced alterations of the cardio-renal system. Hence, low dose of GA serves a protective function against BPA-induced toxicity of the heart and kidney.