Nutrición Hospitalaria (May 2014)

Effects of quercetin on polychlorinated biphenyls-induced liver injury in rats

  • Cléia Rocha de Oliveira,
  • Juliana Ceolin,
  • Renata Rocha de Oliveira,
  • Elizângela Gonçalves Schemitt,
  • Josieli Raskopf Colares,
  • Liliane de Freitas Bauermann,
  • Ijoni Hilda Costabeber,
  • Maria Isabel Morgan-Martins,
  • José L. Mauriz,
  • Juliana da Silva,
  • Juliana Moysés Reyes,
  • Norma Possa Marroni

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2014.29.5.7362
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 5
pp. 1141 – 1148

Abstract

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Introduction: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), used as pesticides in agriculture, can lead to irreversible injuries in living organisms, particularly in liver. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the liver pathogenesis induced by different molecules, including PCBs. It has been demonstrated that quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid found in the diet, exhibits a potent antioxidant effect in different liver pathologies. Objective: To evaluate oxidative stress caused by PCBs in liver and the antioxidant activity of quercetin. Methodology: We used male Wistar rats (n = 36), divided in 4 groups: control, quercetin (50 mg/kg/day), PCBs (0.4 ml/kg/day), and rats treated with both PCBs and quercetin. On day 25 blood was collected to assess liver integrity (enzymes AST, ALT and ALP), and liver samples to measure oxidative stress (TBARS), activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and DNA damage (micronucleus assay), and histological damage. Results: TBARS concentration and SOD activity were significantly higher in PCBs animals as compared to the PCB group receiving quercetin. CAT and GPx decreased in PCBs and increased when quercetin was added. The histological analysis showed damage to hepatocytes in PCBs, but quercetin was able to afford protection against such damage. The micronucleus test showed there was an increase in the production of microclenucleus compared to control, and quercetin was able to reduce this effect. Conclusion: Contamination with PCBs led to increased lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, and the use of antioxidant quercetin was effective in reducing PCBs-induced liver injury.

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