Investigation of the protective properties of resveratrol on oxidative stress effects of toluene exposure

This study uses toluene, a volatile compound that is widely used in industry and in daily life. After toluene exposure, the body may suffer severe damage to many organs and tissues. Toluene metabolism causes oxidative stress in the body. This results in reactive oxygen types (ROS). Anti-oxidants are involved in the defense against ROS. There are antioxidants produced by our body when we take in food. In our study, the protective effect of resveratrol, which we take in with food, on oxidative stress caused by toluene was examined. Resveratrol has many biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol in 72 different plant species such as grapes, peanuts, and mulberries. In this study, the oxidative stress caused by toluene exposure in rats was investigated for changes in malondialdehyde (MDA), one of the lipid peroxidation products, and glutathione (GSH), one of the antioxidants. For this purpose, 36 Wistar-albino male rats, weighing 250-350 grams, were separated as a control group and an experiment group. The control groups were given physiological saline and ethanol (10%), and the test groups were given toluene and toluene + resveratrol (5mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg). The experimental groups were injected for 6 days with toluene and resveratrol in the dose of 900mg/kg. At the end of the sixth day, animals were dissected and blood and lung tissues were collected. The accumulated lung tissue and the blood were examined for MDA levels and GSH activities. In the collected samples, GSH activity was largely observed after the toluene injection. A significant reduction was observed between groups treated with different doses of toluene and resveratrols with the group treated with toluene. In the same groups, when looking at the MDA activity in the lung tissue, there was a significant increase between the control groups and the toluene group, while no significant change in blood was seen.