Friday, June 12, 2009

Compound Found in Honey, Propolis May Help Protect the Liver

Hepatoprotective Effect of Chrysin on Prooxidant-Antioxidant Status During Ethanol-Induced Toxicity in Female Albino Rats
J Pharm Pharmacol, 2009 Jun;61(6):809-17

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of chrysin, a natural, biologically active compound extracted from many plants, honey and propolis, on the tissue and circulatory antioxidant status, and lipid peroxidation in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Key findings: The results showed significantly elevated levels of tissue and circulatory thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides, and significantly lowered enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-related enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E in ethanol-treated rats compared with the control.

Chrysin administration to rats with ethanol-induced liver injury significantly decreased the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes, and significantly elevated the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and the levels of reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E in the tissues and circulation compared with those of the unsupplemented ethanol-treated rats.

The histological changes observed in the liver and kidney correlated with the biochemical findings.

Conclusions: Chrysin offers protection against free radical-mediated oxidative stress in rats with ethanol-induced liver injury.

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