title: Protective effect of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) on hepatic steatosis and damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in Wistar rats.
abstract: The present study was planned to investigate the protective effect of 10 % and 20 % apricot-containing feed on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic steatosis and damage. Adult male Wistar rats (n 42) were divided into six groups of seven each, as follows: control group; CCl4 group; CCl4+10 % apricot group; CCl4+20 % apricot group; 10 % apricot group; 20 % apricot group. All apricot groups were fed with 10 % or 20 % apricot-containing feed for 5 months. CCl4 injections were applied to the CCl4 groups at the dose of 1 mg/kg for 3 d at the end of 5 months. In the CCl4 group, vacuolated hepatocytes and hepatic necrosis were seen, especially in the centrilobular area. Hepatocytes showed an oedematous cytoplasmic matrix, large lipid globules and degenerated organelles. The area of liver injury was found significantly decreased with apricot feeding. Malondialdehyde and total glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly changed in the CCl4 group and indicated increased oxidative stress. Apricot feeding decreased this oxidative stress and ameliorated histological damage. We concluded that apricot feeding had beneficial effects on CCl4-induced liver steatosis and damage probably due to its antioxidant nutrient (beta-carotene and vitamin) contents and high radical-scavenging capacity. Dietary intake of apricot can reduce the risk of liver steatosis and damage caused by free radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Embryology and Histology, Inonu University Medical Faculty, 44280 Malatya, Turkey. fozturk@inonu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Feral
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.forename: I Cetin
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Nigar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vardi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otlu
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005609:Free Radicals; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C491611:Sgo protein, Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione