CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF IMMUNE BOOSTER ON LEAD EXPOSED MALE WISTAR RAT

ABSTRACT Lead (Pb) is a pervasive environmental contaminant and a potent toxicant with no known physiological role. Prolonged exposure to lead has been linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction, which contribute to cardiovascular disorders. This study investigated the cardioprotective influence of Simply Precious Immune Booster (SPIB) in male Wistar rats exposed to lead acetate. Thirty rats weighing between 135–155 g were divided into four groups (n = 6). Group A received distilled water (control), Group B received SPIB (250 mg/kg b.wt), Group C received lead acetate (20 mg/kg b.wt), and Group D received both lead acetate and SPIB at the same doses. Treatments were administered orally for 28 consecutive days. Phytochemical analysis of SPIB revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, coumarins, and phytic acid, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Acute toxicity testing showed no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg, indicating a high safety margin. Biochemical results showed that lead exposure significantly increased serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL while decreasing HDL (p < 0.05). Co-treatment with SPIB markedly restored these lipid indices toward normal values. Histological examination of cardiac tissue revealed myocardial degeneration in lead-treated rats, whereas SPIB administration preserved normal cardiac structure with minimal cellular disruption.