The protective effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles against hepatic oxidative damage induced by monocrotaline

Abstract

Objective

The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles to protect against monocrotaline (MCT)-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model.

Method

Twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were arbitrarily assigned to four groups: control (received saline), CeO₂ (given 0.0001 nmol/kg intraperitoneally [IP]), MCT (given 10 mg/kg body weight IP as a single dose), and MCT + CeO₂ (received CeO₂ both before and after MCT). Electron microscopic imaging of the rat livers was carried out, and hepatic total glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities were quantified.

Results

Results showed a significant MCT-induced decrease in total hepatic GSH, GPX, GR, and GST normalized to control values with concurrent CeO₂ administration. In addition, MCT produced significant increases in hepatic CAT and SOD activities, which also ameliorated with CeO₂.

Conclusions

These results indicate that CeO₂ acts as a putative novel and effective hepatoprotective agent against MCT-induced hepatotoxicity.

Keywords:

• monocrotaline
• ceruim oxide nanoparticle
• hepatotoxicity
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a fund from Beni-Suef University, Egypt. We appreciate the help and advice of Dr, Prater R, VT.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.