PROTECTIVE ROLE OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT AGAINST POLYURETHANE MICROPLASTIC-INDUCED HAEMATOTOXICITY AND INTESTINAL DAMAGE IN RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

Povzetek

The systemic toxicity of synthetic polymer microplastics (MPs) is an emerging and growing concern for mammalian health, but how MPs cause systemic toxicity in mammals and how to effectively mitigate their effects are not fully understood. This present investigation aimed to study the sub-chronic toxicological effects of oral administration of polyurethane (PU) and phytoprotective effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) ethanolic root extract (EREWS) in the rabbit model. Twenty rabbits were randomly distributed to 5 experimental groups (n = 5), and treated daily for 60 days, with the following treatments: Group A (vehicle control); Groups B  (PU at 300 mg/kg B.W); Groups C and D (PU with low- (75 mg/kg B.W.) or high-dose (150 mg/kg B.W.EREWS). Microplastic caused significant systemic pathogenesis (p < 0.05): a decrease in erythrocytic indices (RBC count, haemoglobin, packed cell volume) and platelet counts, and an increase in total white blood cell counts and mean corpuscular volume, all suggestive of microcytic anaemia, haematopoietic suppression, and systemic inflammation. Histopathology of the intestine showed marked disruption of the mucosa with villous blunting and fusion, lifting and sloughing of the epithelium, inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria and disorganisation of the crypt architecture. Of particular interest was the greater effect of PE on erythrocyte degradation and leukocytosis at the same dose compared to PU. All haematological and histopathological aberrations were significantly improved in a dose dependent manner when EREWS was co-administered. High-dose EREWS (150 mg/kg B.W.) was significantly more effective in restoring erythrocytic indices and platelet counts to physiological levels and in maintaining intestinal mucosal architecture by regeneration of villous height, restoration of epithelial integrity and attenuation of inflammatory infiltration. These results show that the root extract of W. somnifera has a strong protective effect against haematotoxicity and enterotoxicity induced by MP, suggesting that it could be used as a natural countermeasure against environmental exposure to xenobiotics.