فاطمه بسطام پور - Department of Biology, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
سید ابراهیم حسینی - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Zand Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran
مهرداد شریعتی - Department of Biology, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
مختار مختاری - Department of Biology, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran

Background and aim: Heavy metals such as lead have negative effects on different tissues of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous-ethanolic extract of parsley leaves (Petroselinum crispum) on the antioxidant content of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and the expression of the Bak gene as an active gene in the apoptosis pathway in the liver tissue of adult male rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into ۶ groups of ۱۰ including control, Sham, experimental۱ (۲۰ mg/kg lead acetate), experimental۲ (۲۰۰ mg/kg extract), experimental۳ (۲۰ mg/kg lead acetate and ۱۰۰ mg/kg extract) and experimental۴ (۲۰ mg/kg lead acetate and ۲۰۰ mg/kg extract) were divided. The length of the study period in all groups was ۲۱ days. At the end of the study, blood samples were taken to measure GSH and GPX and liver tissue samples were taken to evaluate Bak gene by real time-PCR method. Results: Lead acetate decreased the antioxidant content of GSH and GPX in rats and in contrast increased the expression of Bak gene. Administering aqueous-ethanolic extract of parsley leaves in rats treated with lead acetate, increased the antioxidant content of GSH and GPX and decreased Bak gene expression. Conclusion: Lead acetate has negative effects on liver tissue by reducing the antioxidant content and increasing the expression of apoptosis genes. However, it seems that the aqueous-ethanolic extract of parsley leaves with antioxidant effects can counteract the harmful effects of lead acetate and improve the antioxidant content and modulate the genes involved in the apoptosis of rat liver tissue.

Apoptosis, Parsley, Glutathione, Lead, Rat, آپاپتوزیس, جعفری, گلوتاتیون, سرب, موش صحرایی