Abstract:

Arsenic is a heavy metal with toxic effects on human health and is widely found in the environment. It is used in suicides and, hence, acquires forensic impact. Sixty adult male albino mice weighing 30-40 g were subjected to a sub-lethal dose of sodium arsenate (40 mg/kg body weight) to investigate hematological, biochemical and histopathological alterations in liver and kidney. The mice were also co-treated with green tea, garlic and vitamin C to reveal the protective role of these herbal and synthetic antioxidants. Arsenic induced significant declines in all blood parameters, while green tea, garlic and vitamin C ameliorated these affected hematological parameters. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were significantly increased in the sodium arsenate treated group, while green tea, garlic and vitamin C ameliorated these increases in enzyme levels. Creatinine and urea were significantly increased in arsenic treated mice. These renal parameters become normal in mice co-treated with green tea, garlic and vitamin C. Arsenate-treated mice showed venous congestion, sinusoidal dilatation, mononuclear cell infiltration and periportal fibrosis in liver sections. Kidney samples from the same group revealed interstitial hemorrhages, mononuclear cell infiltration, glomerulonephritis and proximal tubular necrosis. Hepato-renal injuries were greatly reduced, particularly in animals that received both green tea and garlic. The herbs used have a potential for ameliorating and protecting against the hepato-renal toxicity caused by arsenic and need further studies. This study revealed the possibility of using liver and kidney as indicators to ascertain arsenic poisoning in forensic caseworks

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