Ellagic Acid Prevents Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Histopathological Alterations in Acrylamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the changes in rat liver tissue after administration of acrylamide (ACR) and ellagic acid (EA). The latter compound was applied for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five equal groups. These groups were normal saline (NS), ACR (20 mg/kg), ACR + EA (10 and 30 mg/kg EA), and EA (30 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, the rats were decapitated. Biochemical and histopathological studies were conducted on liver and serum samples. ACR administration significantly decreased hepatic GSH level, SOD, GPx, and CAT activity when compared to the NS group. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), nitric oxide (NO), protein carbonyl (PC), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) levels increased as a result of ACR administration. Administration of EA (more potently at a dose of 30 mg/kg) resulted in a significant reversal of biochemical, inflammatory, and hepatic markers in ACR-intoxicated rats. These biochemical and inflammatory disturbances were supported by histopathological observations of the liver. Our results indicate that EA might be useful for the treatment of the hepatotoxicity induced by ACR via ameliorative effects on biochemical, oxidative stress, and inflammatory indices.

Keywords:

• acrylamide
• ellagic acid
• hepatotoxicity
• rat

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

About the authors

Mohammad Yahya Karimi, M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology, graduated from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (New Delhi-India). I am currently working as a researcher at Razi Drug Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences under direct supervision of Dr. Asieh Hoseini. Toxicology and molecular biology are my research interests.

Iman Fatemi, PhD in Pharmacology from the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. I am currently working as assistant professor at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. During this time, I have contributed in many research projects about organ toxicity. My research interests focus on aging, organ toxicity, and neuro-toxicology.

Heibatullah Kalantari Joined School of Pharmacy Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran as assistant professor in 1989. Since 1991 until 1999 I was Dean of school of pharmacy. At present I am professor of Medicinal toxicology. Member of the National Toxicology Examination Board since 1990. Editor in Chief of Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products (JJNPP). Member of the Verifier Council of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences since 2002.

Mohammad Amin Mombeini, Pharm.D., from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, iran. I was spending the conscription as a researcher in toxicology laboratory and as a teacher assistant in some courses for students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of pharmacy. During this time, I have contributed to many projects in toxicology, pharmacology and herbal medicines. I like to find some new relations between disease and use drugs based on natural products to treat or pre-treat them.

Saeed Mehrzadi, PhD in medical Pharmacology graduated from Iran University of Medical Sciences and currently working as assistant professor of Medical Pharmacoloy in Iran University of Medical Sciences. His field of intrest is neuroprotection and melatonin research.

Mehdi Goudarzi, PhD in Toxicology from Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran. I am currently working as assistant professor at Medicinal Plant Research Center of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. During this time, I have contributed in many research projects about organ toxicity. My research interests focus on oxidative stress.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Deputy of Research of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran (grant number: MPRC-9607).