Aronia Melanocarpa Antioxidant Potential against Chromium VI Induced Morphological Changes in Endocrine Pancreas

Abstract Hexavalent chromium is known as strong oxidizing agent, enters the cells easily and generates reactive oxygen species. It was demonstrated that Cr VI is toxic for liver, kidney, skin, nervous system, female and male reproductive systems. However, chromium effects on pancreas are less studied. Aronia melanocarpa fruits are rich in phenolic constituents: anthocyanins, procyanidins and phenolic acids, which demonstrated to have anti-oxidative, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory activities. Considering the aforesaid the present study was carried out in idea to see if Cr VI induces structural changes in pancreas, given it’s property of inducing ROS formation in cells, and if aronia extract can play a protective role. The study was carried out on white Wistar rats divided in 5 groups and exposed as follows: C – control –distilled water, Cr group – potassium dichromate, hexavalent chromium compound, in distilled water, 75 ppm for three months; CrA group - 75 ppm Cr VI + extract of A. melanocarpa for three months; Cr2 group - 75 ppm Cr VI for three months followed by one month of distilled water; CrA2 group 75 ppm Cr VI for three months followed by one month of extract of A. melanocarpa. At the end of exposure period pancreas was collected and prepared for histological analysis. Hexavalent chromium administration induced morphological and functional changes in endocrine pancreas cells. Microscopic examination of histological slides from pancreas revealed the size and number reduction of Langerhans islets and presence of degenerative lesions. Experimental group that received Cr VI combined with aqueous extract of Aronia presented almost normal architecture of endocrine cells, even more vascular changes occurred too, probably responsible for repairing phenomena.