Biochemical and Histological Evidence on the Protective Effects of Allium hirtifolium Boiss (Persian Shallot) as an Herbal Supplement in Cadmium-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Figure 3

Effects of Allium hirtifolium Boiss extract on hepatic tissue of cadmium-exposed rats. The histopathological changes such as vascular congestion and accumulations of inflammatory cells were evaluated in different groups. (a) The control group showing normal appearance of hepatocytes. (b) The cadmium group showing vascular congestion in remarkable degree, hepatocellular degeneration, and vacuolization. (c) The A. hirtifolium extract (200 mg/kg) group showing normal appearance of hepatocytes. (d) The cadmium plus A. hirtifolium extract (50 mg/kg) group showing rare inflammatory cells, but vascular congestion and cellular degeneration persist. (e) The cadmium plus A. hirtifolium extract (100 mg/kg) group showing mild cellular degeneration without obvious inflammation, but congestion still persists. (f) The cadmium plus A. hirtifolium extract (200 mg/kg) group showed no pathological changes. Original magnification of all images is ×40.

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