title: Protective role of caffeic acid against alcohol-induced biochemical changes in rats.
abstract: Caffeic acid is a well-known phenolic compound mainly present in plants. In this study, caffeic acid was evaluated for its protective effect against chronic ethanol-induced biochemical changes in male Wistar rats. Administration of ethanol (7.9 g/kg/day) for 45 days induced liver and kidney damage as manifested by a significant increase in the levels of serum hepatic and renal markers namely aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and a significant decrease in creatinine clearance and levels of hemoglobin. Plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and hydroperoxide were significantly elevated where as the levels of nonenzymic antioxidants [reduced glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C] were significantly decreased in alcohol-intoxicated rats. Administration of caffeic acid along with alcohol significantly decreased the serum levels of liver and kidney markers to near-normal levels. In addition, administration of caffeic acid significantly decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation markers while the levels of antioxidants were significantly increased in circulation of alcohol-fed rats. All these results were accompanied by histological observations in liver. The results demonstrate that caffeic acid has a beneficial effect in reducing the adverse effect of alcohol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India. paribalaji@gmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pari
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karthikesan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D020011:Protective Agents; D000431:Ethanol; C040048:caffeic acid