Magnesium oxide nanoparticles: A novel shield against CCl₄-induced hepatic damage via caspase-3 and TNF-α in rats.

BACKGROUND

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a widely used hepatotoxin that induces liver injury through apoptosis and inflammation. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles have shown potential hepatoprotective effects, which may depend on synthesis conditions such as pH.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of biosynthesized MgO nanoparticles from Ornithogalum cuspidatum against CCl₄-induced liver injury in rats and compare the efficacy of nanoparticles synthesized at pH 5 and pH 9.

METHODS

MgO nanoparticles were biosynthesized at pH 5 and pH 9 and characterized for crystalline structure (X-ray diffraction), elemental composition (energy-dispersive spectroscopy), and thermal stability (thermogravimetry). Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: control negative, control positive (CCl₄), MgO pH 5, MgO pH 5 + CCl₄, MgO pH 9, and MgO pH 9 + CCl₄. Liver sections were immunohistochemically evaluated for caspase-3 and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression using immunohistochemistry. Staining was assessed semiquantitatively based on intensity and percentage of positive cells, and a final immunoreactivity score was calculated as Intensity × % positive cells.

RESULTS

Characterization confirmed the successful synthesis and structural features of MgO nanoparticles. CCl₄ exposure increased caspase-3 and TNF-α immunoexpression, with higher scores observed in the CCl₄ group (caspase-3 = 12; TNF-α = 10) compared with the control group (score = 0 for both markers). MgO nanoparticles reduced caspase-3 and TNF-α expression in a pH-dependent manner. The pH 5 formulation showed moderate reduction (caspase-3 = 6; TNF-α = 6), whereas the pH 9 formulation showed greater reduction (caspase-3 = 4; TNF-α = 2), indicating a stronger protective trend.

CONCLUSION

MgO nanoparticles mitigate apoptosis and inflammation in CCl₄-induced liver injury, with higher efficacy observed for nanoparticles synthesized at pH 9, highlighting the importance of synthesis conditions for optimizing hepatoprotective activity.