Abstract: Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on cadmium-induced intestinal damage in rats. Methods: A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into normal control (CON) group, cadmiuminduced damage model group (CdCl2, Cd), cadmium damage model + chlorogenic acid treatment group (Cd + CGA) and cadmium damage model + sunflower seed extract treatment group (Cd + SSE). CdCl2 was daily administered by gavage at a dose of 6 mg/kg to the animals, and both chlorogenic acid and SSE (calculated as CGA) at 50 mg/kg. On the other hand, the control group was given an identical volume of distilled water. The administration lasted for 14 d. Body mass and feed intake were regularly recorded during this period. All animals were sacrificed to collect blood, liver, kidney and intestinal tissues. Intestinal mucosal morphology was observed and intestinal mucosal injury score was evaluated. In addition, intestinal villus height and crypt depth were measured and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum albumin level were determined. Results: CGA and SSE could significantly increase body mass in the rats with cadmium-induced damage and CGA significantly enhanced feed intake (P < 0.05). CGA and SSE could significantly alleviate abnormality of liver index and ileum index in response to cadmium-induced damage (P < 0.05). Moreover, CGA also significantly alleviated abnormality of kidney index and jejunum index (P < 0.05). CGA and SSE significantly inhibited the activities of AST and ALT and increased the intestinal villus height and crypt depth of the rats with cadmium-induced damage (P < 0.05). Morphological observation showed that CGA could effectively inhibit mucosal cell death caused by cadmium. Conclusion: Chlorogenic acid can effectively alleviate cadmium-induced intestinal injury.

Key words: chlorogenic acid, cadmium, intestinal damage, intestinal mucosa