Panax ginseng modulates oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammations induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rats

Abstract Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO 2 NPs) are extensively used in cosmetics, food, and drug delivery. The main mechanism of SiO 2 NPs toxicities depends on oxidative stress. Ginseng ( Panax ginseng Meyer ) is used in various medicinal applications because of its antioxidant efficiency. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the possible combated role of ginseng against SiO 2 NPs toxicity in rat liver. Thirty‐five male rats (160–180 g) were allocated into five groups of seven rats each, randomly. The first group was used as a control while groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were treated orally with ginseng (Gin; 75 mg/kg, 1/10 LD 50 ), SiO 2 NPs, (200 mg/kg, 1/10 LD 50 ), Gin + SiO 2 NPs (protection group), and SiO 2 NPs + Gin (therapeutic group) for 5 weeks, respectively. Treatment with SiO 2 NPs increased lipid peroxidation, liver function enzymes, and decreased antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GST) activity and non‐enzymatic antioxidant (GSH) level. SiO 2 NPs administration motivated liver apoptosis as revealed by the upregulation of the apoptotic genes, Bcl2‐associated x protein ( Bax ), and Beclin 1 and downregulation of the anti‐apoptotic gene, B‐cell lymphoma 2 ( Bcl2 ) as well as increase in DNA damage. Also, SiO 2 NPs administration caused inflammation as indicated by upregulation of the inflammation‐related genes (interleukin 1 beta [ IL1β ], tumor necrosis factor‐alpha [ TNFα ], nuclear factor kappa B [ NFκB ], cyclooxygenase 2 [ Cox2 ], transforming growth factor‐beta 1 [ TGFβ1 ]) as well as cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase of liver cells. Moreover, histopathological examination proved the biochemical and molecular perturbations occurred due to SiO 2 NPs toxicity. On the other hand, ginseng caused a significant modulation on the deleterious effects induced by SiO 2 NPs in rat liver. In conclusion, ginseng has a potent preventive effect than the therapeutic one and might be used in the treatment of SiO 2 NPs hepatotoxicity.