Investigation of chrysin effects on lead asetat-induced liver damage in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chrysin (CH) on lead acetate (PbA) inducing liver injury. In this study, 35 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups as 7 rats in each group. Group 1 (Control): Saline was given orally. Group 2 (CH group): CH (50 mg kg-1 weight day-1) were orally given rats for 7 days. Group 3 (PbA group): PbA (30 mg kg-1) was orally given to rats at 30 mg kg-1 PbA for 7 days. Group 4 (PbA +CH 25 group): 25 mg/kg CH was orally given to rats for 7 days. In addition, 30 mg kg-1 PbA was given orally to rats for 7 days after 30 minutes of the application of the CH. Group 5 (PbA+CH 50 group): 50 mg kg-1 CH was orally given to rats for 7 days. Furthermore, 30 mg kg-1 PbA was given orally to rats for 7 days after 30 minutes of the application of the CH. The rats were euthanized under mild sevoflurane anesthesia and tissue and blood samples were taken 24 hours after the last application (8th day). Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) and Nitric Oxide (NO.) levels in liver tissue and Süperoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) and arginase enzyme activities were examined. Serum ALT, AST and ALP levels increased in the PbA group when compared with the control, and this increase was partially corrected with CH. Liver MDA and NO. levels increased in the PbA administered groups while antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels decreased. Although, CH administration decreased the increased MDA and NO. levels, it increased the decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels. Histologically, the liver tissues of control and CH groups were in normal histological appearance. Severe necrotic changes and hydropic degeneration were observed in hepatocytes in the group of rats treated with PbA alone. However, medium-level necrotic changes and hydropic degeneration were observed in hepatocyte in the group of rats treated with PbA+CH 25. In these groups, mononuclear cell infiltrations were also occasionally observed in the periportal and perivascular areas. Besides, noxious, hydropic degeneration and mononuclear cell infiltrations were decreased in the livers of the rats treated with PbA and CH 50. As a result, CH is effective in the reducing PbA damages in the liver.