title: Effects of quercetin on polychlorinated biphenyls-induced liver injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), used as pesticides in agriculture, can lead to irreversible injuries in living organisms, particularly in liver. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the liver pathogenesis induced by different molecules, including PCBs. It has been demonstrated that quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid found in the diet, exhibits a potent antioxidant effect in different liver pathologies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate oxidative stress caused by PCBs in liver and the antioxidant activity of quercetin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used male Wistar rats (n = 36), divided in 4 groups: control, quercetin (50 mg/kg/day), PCBs (0.4 ml/kg/day), and rats treated with both PCBs and quercetin. On day 25 blood was collected to assess liver integrity (enzymes AST, ALT and ALP), and liver samples to measure oxidative stress (TBARS), activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and DNA damage (micronucleus assay), and histological damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TBARS concentration and SOD activity were significantly higher in PCBs animals as compared to the PCB group receiving quercetin. CAT and GPx decreased in PCBs and increased when quercetin was added. The histological analysis showed damage to hepatocytes in PCBs, but quercetin was able to afford protection against such damage. The micronucleus test showed there was an increase in the production of microclenucleus compared to control, and quercetin was able to reduce this effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contamination with PCBs led to increased lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, and the use of antioxidant quercetin was effective in reducing PCBs-induced liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. PPG BioSaúde/ULBRA.. fisio_cleia@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cléia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rocha de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.. fisio_cleia@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ceolin
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.. fisio_cleia@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocha de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia Experimental/HCPA. Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes/ULBRA.. elizschemitt@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Elizângela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonçalves Schemitt
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia Experimental/HCPA. Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes/ULBRA. PPG BioSaúde/ULBRA.. jozy.ma@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Josieli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raskopf Colares
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia/UFSM.. fisio_cleia@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Freitas Bauermann
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesticidas Persistentes - LAPP/UFSM.. fisio_cleia@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ijone
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hilda Costabeber
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia Experimental/HCPA. Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes/ULBRA.. morganmartins@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Morgan-Martins
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED). University of Leon. Spain.. jl.mauriz@unileon.es.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mauriz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia Experimental/HCPA. Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes/ULBRA. PPG Fisiologia/UFRGS. PPG Ciências Médicas/UFRGS. PPG BioSaúde/ULBRA..
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: PPG BioSaúde/ULBRA..
authors.forename: Juliana Moysés
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: PPG BioSaúde/ULBRA.. nmarroni@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Possa Marroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D011794:Quercetin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase