THE INVESTIGATION OF PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF QUERCETIN ON OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED IN RATS OF 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN

Abstract

In this study, 28 Wistar Albino male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (control 0.5 mL corn oil, TCDD 2 µg/kg/week, quercetin 20 mg/kg/day, quercetin 20 mg/kg/day + TCDD 2 µg/kg/day), and TCDD and quercetin were orally administered for 8 week. At the end of the eighth week, the rats were sacrificed and their heart and vascular tissues were taken for biochemical analysis (GSH, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD and TBARS levels) by spectrophotometric method. As a result of this study, TCDD significantly reduced antioxidant activities and induced lipid peroxidation in rats. In contrast, quercetin significantly prevented toxic effects of TCDD via increased SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px levels but decreased formation of TBARS. Therefore, it can be suggested that quercetin has the potential for the treatment against the toxicity caused by TCDD or other environmental contaminants and can decrease the risk of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases especially in humans.