Ameliorative Role of fenugreek Oil Against Lead Acetate Trihydrate-Induced Hepatic, Renal and Testicular Injury in Wistar Albino Rats: Insights into Bcl-2 Expression and sodium/potassium balance.

Lead (Pb) is a prevalent environmental toxicant that induces multisystem toxicity, primarily through oxidative stress and apoptosis. Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seed oil is enriched with bioactive phytoconstituents possessing potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the protective effect of fenugreek oil against lead acetate trihydrate (PbAc)-induced hepatic, renal, and testicular histopathological damage in Wistar rats, with emphasis on the anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2). A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (10 in each): a control group (CG), a Pb-intoxicated group (PbG) given 50 mg/kg of PbAc daily, a fenugreek oil-protected group (Pb + FOG) co-administered the same PbAc dose plus 250 mg/kg of fenugreek, and fenugreek oil-only group (FOG) receiving 250 mg/kg of fenugreek oil alone. All treatments were administered via oral gavage over a period of four weeks. Histopathological examination of the PbG revealed marked structural alterations in the hepatic tissue (necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and inflammatory cell infiltration), renal tissue (glomerular shrinkage and tubular degeneration), and testicular tissue (degeneration of the germinal epithelium and Leydig cells) compared to the CG. In contrast, co-administration of fenugreek seed oil in the Pb + FOG partially restored histological architecture of hepatic, renal and testicular tissues compared to the PbG. However, co-administration of fenugreek seed oil in the Pb + FOG significantly upregulated Bcl-2 mRNA expression compared to PbG (0.65 vs. 0.40; P < 0.01). Sequencing analysis of liver samples showed 97.81-100% nucleotide identity with the Bcl-2 mRNA reference sequence. Lead intoxication in the PbG significantly impaired serum biochemical parameters and elevated Na⁺, K⁺, and Pb levels compared to the CG and FOG. Conversely, co-administration of fenugreek seed oil in the Pb + FOG significantly reduced Pb concentration and restored Na⁺/K⁺ levels. In conclusion, concurrent administration of fenugreek seed oil may attenuate PbAc-induced hepatic, renal and testicular histopathological damage in rats. This protectivity effect was associated with the restoration of sodium/potassium balance, and upregulation of Bcl-2 expression. Nonetheless, further mechanistic studies, particularly addressing oxidative stress markers, are required.