Epicatechin ameliorates ionising radiation-induced oxidative stress in mouse liver

Abstract

The current study was intended to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Epicatechin (EC) against radiation-induced oxidative stress, in terms of inflammation and lipid peroxidation. Swiss albino mice were administered with EC (15 mg/kg body weight) for three consecutive days before exposing them to a single dose of 5-Gy ⁶⁰Co gamma (γ) irradiation. Mice were necropsied and livers were taken for immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis and biochemical tests for the detection of markers of hepatic oxidative stress. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and lipid peroxidation were increased whereas the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) content and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were diminished upon radiation exposure compared to control. Translocation of NF-κB from cytoplasm to nucleus and lipid peroxidation were found to be inhibited whereas an increase in SOD, CAT, GSH and FRAP was observed in the mice treated with EC prior to irradiation. Thus, pre-treatment with EC offers protection against γ-radiation induced hepatic alterations.

Keywords::

• antioxidant
• gamma(γ) radiation
• inflammation
• lipid peroxidation
• reactive oxygen species

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. M. Nandi of SINP, Kolkata for providing necessary irradiation facilities. The authors are also thankful to Mrs. Elsie Kallingal for the improvement of English usage. The authors acknowledge Dr. Mahuya Ghosh, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Technology, for HPLC facility support.

NOTICE OF CORRECTION

The Early Online version of this article published online ahead of print on 9 May 2012 contained an error in the title. The sentence “Epicatechin ameliorates ionising radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice liver” should have read “Epicatechin ameliorates ionising radiation-induced oxidative stress in mouse liver”. This has been corrected for the current version.