Abstract of research

RUTIN ATTENUATES IRON OVERLOAD-INDUCED HEPATIC OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RATS

Hussein, S.A.a, Azab, M.E.b and Soheir El Shalla

Abstract

Iron is an essential element that participates in several metabolic activities of the cell. However, excess iron is a major cause of iron-induced oxidative stress and several human diseases. Natural flavonoids, as rutin, are well-known antioxidants, and could be efficient protective agents. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective influence of rutin supplementation to improve rat antioxidant systems against iron overload (IOL)-induced hepatic oxidative stress. Sixty male albino rats were randomly divided to three equal groups. The first group, the control, the second group, iron overload group, the third group was used as iron overload+rutin group. Rats received six doses of ferric hydroxide polymaltose (100 mg/kg b.w.) as one dose every two days, by intraperitoneal injections (IP) and administerated rutin (50 mg/kg b.w.) as one daily oral dose until the sacrificed day. Blood samples and liver tissue specimens were collected three times, after three, four and five weeks from the onset of the experiment. Serum iron profile [iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), transferrin (Tf) and transferrin saturation% (TS%)], ferritin, albumin, total Protein, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols levels, as well as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were determined. Moreover, iron in the liver, L-malondialdehyde (LMDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) and total nucleic acid (TNA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also determined. The obtained results revealed that IOL resulted in significant increase in serum iron, TIBC, Tf, TS% and ferritin levels as well as AST and ALT activities. Moreover, it increased liver iron, L-MDA, and NO levels. Meanwhile, it decreased serum UIBC, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols levels, as well as liver GSH, TNA levels, and Gpx, CAT and SOD activities when compared with the control rats. Rutin administration to IOL-rats resulted in significant decrease in serum iron, TIBC, Tf, TS%, ferritin levels, and AST and ALT activities as well as liver iron, L-MDA, and NO levels. Rutin also induced significant increases in serum UIBC, albumin, total protein and total cholesterol levels, as well as liver GSH, CAT and SOD activities compared with the IOL-rats. This study provides in vivo evidence that rutin administration can improve the antioxidant defence systems against IOL-induced hepatic oxidative stress in rats. This protective effect in liver of iron loaded rats may be due to both the antioxidant and metal chelation activities.