Figure 4.

The effect of the extract from the berries of Aronia melanocarpa L. (AE) on the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the liver of rats exposed to cadmium (Cd). The rats received Cd in the diet at the concentration of 0, 1, and 5 mg Cd/kg and/or 0.1% aqueous AE (+) or not (-). Data are presented as mean ± SE for eight rats, except for seven animals in the AE, Cd₁, and Cd₅ group after 24 months. Statistically significant differences (ANOVA, Duncan’s multiple range test): * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. control group; ^† p < 0.05, ^†† p < 0.01, ^††† p < 0.001 vs. respective group intoxicated with Cd alone; ^‡ p < 0.05, ^‡‡ p < 0.01, ^‡‡‡ p < 0.001 vs. group receiving AE alone; ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 vs. respective group receiving the 1 mg Cd/kg diet (alone or with AE). Numerical values in bars or above the bars disclose the percentage changes or factors of changes in comparison to the control group (↓, decrease; ↑, increase) or the respective group receiving Cd alone (↙, decrease).