Dietary Importance of Physalis Peruviana and its Efficacy Against Lead Toxicity in Rats

This study was carried out to investigate the dietary importance of Physalis Peruviana (PP) and its efficacy against lead toxicity in rats. Thirty young albino rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing approximately 50 ± 5 gm were randomly distributedinto five main groups , the first group (6 rats) was kept on the basal diet as negative control (-ve), while rats in other groups was exposed to lead acetate and divided into four groups (6 of each). Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphate (ALP), lead, liver enzymes, in addition kidney functions were determined in serum. Antioxidants enzymes as well as MDA were analyzed. Results showed an increase in body weight gain in groups fed on Physalis Peruviana. Liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), in addition urea nitrogen and criatinine were decreased significantly in the groups 3,4and 5, respectively compared with the positive control group. Physalis Peruviana caused significant improvement in calcium and phosphorus concentrations in serum compared with the positive control group. The lowest harmful effect from lead appears in group of rats which fed on Physalis Peruviana at three levels compared with the positive control group. Urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were significantly improved when rats were fed on three levels of Physalis Peruviana powder. Also, results showed that ALP concentration was significantly decreased when rats were fed on Physalis Peruviana powder. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) were significantly increased in groups 3,4 and 5, respectively . However, MDA were decreased significantly in the groups 3,4 and 5, respectively.