Figure 5.

The effect of the extract from the berries of Aronia melanocarpa L. (AE) on the total antioxidative status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI) 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 < 0.01, ^‡‡‡ p < 0.001 vs. group receiving AE alone; ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 vs. respective group receiving the 1 mg Cd/kg diet (alone or with AE). Numerical values in bars disclose the percentage changes in comparison to the control group (↓, decrease; ↑, increase) or the respective group receiving Cd alone (↙, decrease; ↗, increase).