Fig 2: The effects of anticancer drug-loaded chitosan microspheres on the expression of apoptotic proteins on osteosarcoma cells. (A) The expression of apoptotic proteins including BCL-2, BAX and Caspase-3 on HOS and MG-63 cells of control, blank, 5-FU microspheres, PTX microspheres and CDDP microspheres groups. The quantification of the expression of apoptotic proteins including BCL-2, BAX and Caspase-3 on HOS cells (B) and MG-63 cells (C) of control, blank, 5-FU microspheres, PTX microspheres and CDDP microspheres groups.

Fig 3: (A–G) Photomicrograph of liver tissue sections stained with H&E revealing normal histological structure of the central vein (c.v), hepatocytes (H), and sinusoids (S) in the control (A) and Alhagi-administered groups (B). The lead-intoxicated group demonstrates congestion of central vein (arrow) and in hepatic sinusoids (arrow head) (C), severe dilatation of sinusoids (arrow head) (D), congested portal vein (p.v) beside hepatic artery (ha), and bile ductule (bd) in the portal area (E) and lymphocytic infiltration (arrow head), disruption of hepatocytes (zigzag arrow) and apoptotic hepatocytes (arrow) (F). The lead + Alhagi-treated rats demonstrate mild dilation in the portal vein (p.v) (G). (H–L) Photomicrograph of the liver tissue sections displaying Bcl-2 immunoexpression (arrows) as the following: negative in the negative control (H), moderate in the control (I), moderate in the Alhagi-administered rats (J), negative to weak in the lead-intoxicated rats (K), and mild in the lead + Alhagi-exposed rats (L).

Fig 4: Effect of the A. maurorum extract (300 mg/kg BW, orally) on the hepatic mRNA expression of apoptosis-associated genes (A–C) and antioxidant genes (D–F) in rats treated with lead (100 mg/kg BW, orally) daily for 3 months. Caspase-3 (A), Bax (B), Bcl-2 (C), CAT (D), SOD (E), and GPx (F). Data were expressed as mean ± SE, n = 10 for each group. **, *** Significantly different compared to the control group at p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively. ##, ### Significantly different compared to the lead-exposed group at p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively.

Fig 5: Effect of the A. maurorum extract (300 mg/kg BW, orally) on the mRNA levels of genes related to apoptosis (A–C), and oxidative stress (D–F) in the brain of rats treated with lead (100 mg/kg BW, orally) daily for 3 months. Caspase-3 (A), Bax (B), Bcl-2 (C), CAT (D), SOD (E), and GPx (F). Data were expressed as mean ± SE, n = 10 for each group. *, ** Significantly different compared to the control group at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively. #, ## Significantly different compared to the lead-exposed group at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively.