Efficacy of Panax ginseng against oxidative stress induced by PCBs in rats

The aim of the current work is to evaluate the protective role of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae extract EFLA400 (Phoenix ginseng) against polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) toxicity in rats. Forty female rats were divided into four groups: the control group, the group treated orally with PCBs (250µg/kg b.w), the group treated with P. ginseng extract (20mg/kg b.w) and the group treated with PCBs plus Panax ginseng extract. Treatment with PCBs showed a significant increase in hepatocyte damage markers (ALT, AST, ALP), and lipid peroxidation in liver, whereas, it cause a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase SOD and (gluthathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in liver tissue. The histological results revealed that PCBs treatment induced severe histopathological and histochemical damage in liver tissue. Addition of Panax ginseng to PCBs resulted in a significant improvement in all the biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, and ALP), liver antioxidant (SOD and GPx) at P<0.05 and the histological picture of the liver. It could be concluded that P. ginseng extract has a protective effects against the oxidative stress induced by PCBs.