Lycopene attenuates chlorpyrifos-induced hepatotoxicity in rats via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 axis

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), is an organophosphate pesticide that is widely used for agricultural purposes. However, it has well-documented hepatotoxicity. Lycopene (LCP) is a plant-derived carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present work was designed to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective actions of LCP against CPF-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals were assigned into five groups namely: Group I (Control), Group II (LCP), Group III (CPF), Group IV (CPF + LCP 5 mg/kg), and Group V (CPF + LCP 10 mg/kg). LCP offered protection as evidenced by inhibiting the rise in serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) induced by CPF. This was confirmed histologically as LCP-treated animals showed liver tissues with less proliferation of bile ducts and periductal fibrosis. LCP significantly prevented the rise in hepatic content of malondialdehyde (MDA), depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH), and exhaustion of glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further, LCP significantly prevented hepatocyte death as it ameliorated the increase in Bax and the decrease in Bcl-2 expression induced by CPF in liver tissues as determined immunohistochemically. The observed protective effects of LCP were further confirmed by a significant enhancement in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. In conclusion, LCP possesses protective effects against CPF-induced hepatotoxicity. These include antioxidation and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis.

Antioxidant effect of the pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense) on the hepatic tissue of rats trained by exhaustive swimming exercises

Abstract Increased oxygen consumption and activation of specific metabolic pathways during or after physical exercise lead to the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. An investigation was made into the effects of pequi oil supplementation in protecting liver cells against injury resulting from oxidative stress. The experiments involved 20 male adult Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus). The animals were divided into four experimental groups: Group 1: sedentary control group; Group 2: exercise control group; Group 3: supplemented sedentary group; and Group 4: supplemented exercise group. Supplementation consisted of pequi oil administered by oral gavage (400 mg). The animals of the exercised groups were subjected to 20 swimming sessions for 5 weeks (with progressive increase of 10 minutes until exhaustion). Samples were collected from the right hepatic lobe for histopathological analysis and determination of malondialdehyde levels. The histopathological analyses revealed that the animals of the exercised control group had moderate liver damage, while the animals of the supplemented exercised group had slight tissue damage, and the sedentary control and sedentary supplemented groups showed no tissue damage. The malondialdehyde levels showed higher and statistically significant in exercise control group when compared to the other evaluated groups (p<0.05). In conclusion the supplementation with pequi oil had a protective effect on liver cells against damage caused by oxygen free radicals during strenuous exercise, as demonstrated by the indicator of lipid peroxidation.