Banana peel extract alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress via modulation of the Nrf2/Hmox-1 and NF-κB pathways in thyroid of heavy metal mixture exposed female rats

Introduction This is an evaluation of the effects of banana peel BP extract on the heavy metals’ mixture HMM mediated oxido-inflammatory effects in the thyroid of female albino rats. Methods Five groups (5 female rats/group) were treated as follows for 60 days: Group 1: Deionized water only; Group 2: (Pb, Hg, Mn and Al); Group 3: 200 mg/kg BP extract + HMM; Group 4: 400 mg/kg BP extract + HMM; Group 5: 800 mg/kg BP extract + HMM. On day 60 animals were euthanized, thyroid was harvested and used for, malondialdehyde MDA, nitric oxide NO, antioxidants, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF – α), interleukin 6 (IL – 6), Caspase-3, Nuclear factor erythroid 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2), Nuclear factor kappa B (NfkB) and Heme Oxygynase – 1 (Hmox-1) and histopathology. Results There was significant bioaccumulation of Pb, Al, Hg and MN; elevated IL-6 and Tnf-α, MDA and NO, caspase-3 and Nrf2, NF-κB and Hmox-1 in the HMM only group in comparison to the control. There was significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in SOD, CAT GSH activities in HMM only exposed group in comparison to the control deionized water group, whereas BP co-treatment with HMM significantly ( p < 0.05) increased SOD, CAT GSH activities. Co-treatment with BP extract also reversed most of these effects. Discussion and Conclusions BP extract may ameliorate HMM -induced thyrotoxicity in female albino rats by blunting oxido-inflammatory activities.