Quercetin Prevents Oxidative Stress in Cirrhotic Rats

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Dig Dis Sci.

2007 Apr 12; [Epub ahead of print]

Quercetin Prevents Oxidative

Stress in Cirrhotic Rats.

Amalia PM, Possa MN, Augusto MC, Francisca LS.

Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Santa , Brazil.

Our aim was to study the protective effect of quercitin

on liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))

in rats and its relationship with liver morphology. Thirty

male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly

divided into three groups: control, CCl(4), and CCl(4)+ quercetin. Rats in the experimental groups were given CCl(4) (0.5 ml/kg i.p.), diluted

1:6 in vegetable oil (5 mmol/kg body wt), at 10:00 p.m. every 4 days for 17 weeks. Quercetin (500 mul/kg i.p.; 150 mumol/kg body wt) or vehicle was administered at 6:00 p.m. for the last 3 weeks of the study. Control group rats were given only olive oil for the same

period. At the end of the 17 weeks, all rats were

sacrificed. Blood samples were taken for determination

of serum indicators (ALT, AST, total bilirubin,

conjugated bilirubin, factor V) and the livers were

dissected out and divided into two parts: one was homogenized and the

supernatant was used for measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and

glutathione peroxidase (GPx)

activities, as well as lipid peroxidation. The other part was used for the histopathological

study. CCl(4) caused a

marked rise in serum levels of ALT, AST, total bilirubin,

and conjugated bilirubin, as well as a decrease in

factor V (P<0.05). Lipid peroxidation

levels were significantly increased, whereas GSH, SOD, catalase,

GPx, and GST levels were decreased in the liver of CCl(4)-treated rats. Quercetin (50 mg/kg/day) successfully attenuated these

effects of CCl(4). We

conclude that quercetin has beneficial effects on

liver fibrosis in rats by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing

the pro-oxidant effect.

PMID: 17431769 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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