No abstract

In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the role of oxidative stress on the hepatic damage caused by methotrexate (MTX) and the possible protective effects of beta-carotene against this damage. The rats were divided into four groups as control, MTX (20 mg/kg ip), beta-carotene (10 mg/kg/day ip) + MTX, and beta-carotene. Histopathologic alterations were evaluated for defining the liver damage. The tissue, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GP-x) contents and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotranferase (ALT) activities were also examined. Histopathologic damage for each group score findings have been determined as control: 0.66 +/- 0.33; MTX: 7.0 +/- 0.68; beta-carotene + MTX: 3.3 +/- 0.42; and beta-carotene: 0.5 +/- 0.3. In the MTX-treated group, MDA, AST, and ALT values were increased, while SOD and GP-x values were decreased compared with the control group. In the beta-carotene + MTX-treated group, AST and ALT values significantly decreased, while all other parameters were similar to the control group. This study shows that beta-carotene has a protective effect on MTX-induced oxidative hepatic damage. Consequently, it seems that an antioxidant agents like beta-carotene may be useful in decreasing the side effects of chemotherapy.

The present study was planned to investigate the protective effect of 10 % and 20 % apricot-containing feed on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatic steatosis and damage. Adult male Wistar rats (n 42) were divided into six groups of seven each, as follows: control group; CCl 4 group; CCl 4 þ 10 % apricot group; CCl 4 þ 20 % apricot group; 10 % apricot group; 20 % apricot group. All apricot groups were fed with 10 % or 20 % apricot-containing feed for 5 months. CCl 4 injections were applied to the CCl 4 groups at the dose of 1 mg/kg for 3 d at the end of 5 months. In the CCl 4 group, vacuolated hepatocytes and hepatic necrosis were seen, especially in the centrilobular area. Hepatocytes showed an oedematous cytoplasmic matrix, large lipid globules and degenerated organelles. The area of liver injury was found significantly decreased with apricot feeding. Malondialdehyde and total glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly changed in the CCl 4 group and indicated increased oxidative stress. Apricot feeding decreased this oxidative stress and ameliorated histological damage. We concluded that apricot feeding had beneficial effects on CCl 4 -induced liver steatosis and damage probably due to its antioxidant nutrient (b-carotene and vitamin) contents and high radical-scavenging capacity. Dietary intake of apricot can reduce the risk of liver steatosis and damage caused by free radicals.

This study was planned to investigate the protective effect of l(+)-ascorbic acid (Vit C) on CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in the liver of Wistar rats (Rattus Norvegicus, strain Wistar). Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were fed with standard rat chow diet for 10 days and randomly were divided into four groups of six each as follows: (1) control, (2) CCl(4), (3) "CCl(4) + Vit C", (4) Vit C groups. CCl(4) was applied to rats belonging to CCl(4) and "CCl(4) + Vit C" groups subcutaneously at 1 mg kg(-1) dose CCl(4) for 3 days. Vit C applied to "CCl(4) + Vit C" and "Vit C" group rats intraperitoneally at 300 mg kg(-1) dose for 3 days. All rats were sacrificed and livers were quickly removed on the fourth day of the experiment. MDA, total glutathione (T.GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities were measured in the liver of all groups of rats and also serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) activities were detected to determine liver functions in all groups of rats. Histopathological changes were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopes. In "CCl(4) + Vit C" group, MDA level was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and SOD, CAT, GSH-PX activities were significantly increased (p < 0.005, 0.01, 0.05) respectively, T.GSH level was significantly increased (p < 0.005) and serum ALT and AST activities were significantly decreased (p < 0.01, 0.05), respectively, when compared with CCl(4) group. These results show that Vit C has a highly protective effect on hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by CCl(4).