Table 2.

Evaluation of the main and interactive effects of cadmium (Cd) and Aronia melanocarpa L. berry extract (AE) on the expression of collagen type I and collagen type III at the protein level in the livers of rats ^1,2.

Duration (Months)	1 mg Cd/kg Diet + AE				5 mg Cd/kg Diet + AE
	Main Effect of Cd	Main Effect of AE	Interactive Effect of Cd + AE	Cd + AE Effect vs. Cd Effect + AE Effect Possible Character of Cd–AE Interaction	Main Effect of Cd	Main Effect of AE	Interactive Effect of Cd + AE	Cd + AE Effect vs. Cd Effect + AE Effect Possible Character of Cd–AE Interaction
Collagen I
3	NS	NS	13.88 **	0 vs. −19 3 + 0 0 vs. −19 Antagonistic action	14.47 **	9.928 **	25.37 ***	0 vs. −31 + 0 0 vs. −31 Antagonistic action
10	232.4 ***	72.18 ***	50.73 ***	−10 vs. −34 + 0 −10 vs. −34 Antagonistic action	138.8 ***	34.42 ***	25.38 ***	−15 vs. −43 + 0 −15 vs. −43 Antagonistic action
17	19.91 ***	4.297 *	31.09 ***	+12 vs. +50 + (+17) +12 vs. +67 Antagonistic action	12.57 **	NS	17.61 ***	+14 vs. +33 + (+17) +14 vs. +50 Antagonistic action
24	9.685 **	7.746 *	9.121 **	0 vs. −27 + 0 0 vs. −27 Antagonistic action	14.23 **	16.55 ***	19.22 ***	0 vs. −32 + 0 0 vs. −32 Antagonistic action
Collagen III
3	18.05 ***	5.407 *	27.16 ***	+33 vs. +51 + (+37) +33 vs. +88 Antagonistic action	10.82 **	39.33 ***	NS	No interaction
10	14.09 **	NS	38.58 ***	0 vs. +64 + (+33) 0 vs. +97 Antagonistic action	98.93 ***	NS	6.636 *	2-fold vs. +2.2-fold + (+1.33-fold) 2-fold vs. 3.53-fold Antagonistic action
17	148.9 ***	43.15 ***	217.8 ***	+17 vs. +80 + (+24) +17 vs. +104 Antagonistic action	150.3 ***	20.02 ***	121.2 ***	+29 vs. +86 + (+24) +29 vs. +110 Antagonistic action
24	14.62 **	8.997 **	NS	No interaction	54.56 ***	9.717 **	NS	No interaction

¹ The findings of the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA/MANOVA) are expressed as F values and the level of statistical significance (p). F values with p < 0.05 are considered statistically significant (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001). NS—not statistically significant (p > 0.05). ² In order to evaluate the possible character of the interaction between Cd and AE, the effect disclosed at their co-administration was compared to the sum of the effects noted in separate treatments with these agents (Cd + AE effect vs. Cd effect + AE effect). The Cd effect, AE effect, and Cd + AE effect are shown as percentage changes or factors of changes (+, increase; −, decrease) of a measured parameter vs. the control group. Cd–AE interaction was recognized as antagonistic when the result of simultaneous treatment with Cd and AE was less than the mathematic sum of the results noted in their separate applications. ³ The values represent percentage changes.