Ameliorative Role of Quercetin on Intestinal Hitomorpometric, Oxidative Status and Pro-Inflammatory Changes in Hydrogen Peroxide–exposed Rats

Abstract

This study was aimed to explore the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of quercetin (QCT) in hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) treated rats. Forty (40) adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 ratseach) and were handled daily using gastric gavage for 30 days: Control group(C) in this group the rats were received ordinary tap water administered the vehicle only (norm al saline), H 2 O 2 group(T1) The rats in this group were administered orally0.5 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and given water containing 1% of H 2 O 2 along experiment period (one month); H 2 O 2 and Quercetin (T2) group: the animals in this group were administered orally 0.5 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and given water containing one percent of H 2 O 2 for 15 days followed by oral administration of Quercetin (20 mg\kg B.W) for another 15 days; Mixed (T3): group the rats were given QCT plus 1% of H 2 O 2 in drinking water in the same previous doses for one month. Blood sample were collected by cardiac puncture technique at the end of the experiment and serum were collected for estimation the concentration of tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNFα), intrleukin-10 (IL-10) and total antioxidant capacity (TOAC). After animal scarifying, sections from small and large intestine were taken for estimation tissue reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The tissue samples of intestine (Duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon) were taken for Histomorphometric analysis (The villus height, thicknesses, depth of epithelial crypts and the number of goblet cell). The results showed that the oral intubation of quercetin for 15 days after H 2 O 2 (group T2) or combination of quercetin and H 2 O 2 for one month (groupT3) caused significant decrease in TNF-α, significant increase in the IL-10 at the end of experiment comparing to the value inT1 group and the value tend to normalize that of control group. A case of oxidative stress as explained by elevation in intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) and depression in reduced glutathione (GSH) accompanied with depression in TAOC concentrations in H 2 O 2 treated group comparing to QCT group which caused alleviation of pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress induced by H 2 O 2 . Histomorphometric analysis of intestine revealed significant elevation in depth, thickness of villi with elevation in villus height to crypt depth ratio that caused improvement in absorptive capacity of intestine, as well as elevation in number of goblet cell in some part of intestine were observed in QCT treatment groups (T2 and T3) comparing to H 2 O 2 (T1)treated group. On conclusion, the current study documented, for first time, in vivo damaging effect of H 2 O 2 on intestinal (oxidative status, Morphometric), in addition to its effect on anti-inflammatory status. The result also pointed to protective and preventive effect of quercetin.