title: Quercetin treatment ameliorates systemic oxidative stress in cirrhotic rats.
abstract: Our aim was to investigate whether the antioxidant quercetin protects against liver injury and ameliorates the systemic oxidative stress in rats with common bile duct ligation. Secondary biliary cirrhosis was induced through 28 days of bile duct obstruction. Animals received quercetin (Q) after 14 days of obstruction. Groups of control (CO) and cirrhotic (CBDL) animals received a daily 50 mg/kg body weight i.p. injection of quercetin (CO + Q; CBDL + Q) or vehicle (CO; CBDL). Quercetin corrected the reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase CAT, and glutathione peroxidase GPx activities and prevented the increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), aminotransferases, and alkaline phosphatase in cirrhotic animals. Quercetin administration also corrected the reduced total nitrate concentration in the liver and prevented liver fibrosis and necrosis. These effects suggest that quercetin might be a useful agent to preserve liver function and prevent systemic oxidative stress.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and Physiology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 90050170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Emanuelle Kerber
authors: EK
authors: Vieira
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Bona
authors: Fábio Cangeri
authors: FC
authors: Di Naso
authors: Marilene
authors: M
authors: Porawski
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Tieppo
authors: Norma Possa
authors: NP
authors: Marroni