Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ’Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Shahīd Ṣadūqī Yazd (Feb 2015)
Hepatoprotective Effects of Betaine Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Levodopa and Benserazide in Rats
Abstract
Introduction: Betaine has been demonstrated to have methyl donor and antioxidant properties in our previous reports. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine plasma homocysteine concentration and evaluate antioxidant activity of betaine following levodopa and benserazide administration, which routinely are used in treatment of Parkinson’s disease in liver of rats. Methods: Sprague–Dawley male rats were treated by levodopa (LD), Betaine (Bet.), levodopa plus betaine (LD/Bet.), levodopa plus benserazide (LD/Ben.), levodopa plus betaine-benserazide (LD/Bet.-Ben.) and distilled water to controls for 10 consecutive days, orally. Plasma homocysteine concentration was measured by ELISA method. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation amount were measured via chemical methods. Serumic dopamine concentration was also determined by HPLC method and data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA test. Results: The study results indicated that the treatment of rats with levodopa and benserazide significantly increased total homocysteine (tHcy) in plasma of the LD/Ben. group in comparison with the other groups (p <0.05). tHcy concentration was also significantly higher in LD group in comparison with control, betaine and LD/Bet. groups. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) amount of liver increased significantly in LD/Ben. group when compared to the control group which this index decreased by betaine treatment. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in liver were significantly higher in the LD-treated rats as compared to the LD/Ben. group. Serumic dopamine concentration decreased significantly in LD/Ben.-treated rats in comparison with LD and LD/Bet. groups. Conclusion: Taken together, it seems that betaine acts as an antioxidant agent regarding decrease of LD/Ben.-induced oxidative stress and is able to decrease their oxidative effects in liver of rats.
