title: Nitrate-induced biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of rats: ameliorative effect of Hyparrhenia hirta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the protective role of Hyparrhenia hirta (H. hirta) against sodium nitrate (NaNO3)-induced hepatoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group and two treated groups during 50 d with NaNO3 administered either alone in drinking water or co-administered with H. hirta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NaNO3 treatment induced a significant increase in serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride while serum total protein level decreased significantly. Transaminases and lactate deshydrogenase activities in serum were elevated indicating hepatic cells' damage after treatment with NaNO3. The hyperbilirubinemia and the increased serum gamma glutamyl transferase activities suggested the presence of cholestasis in NaNO3 exposed rats. In parallel, a significant increase in malondialdehyde level along with a concomitant decrease in total glutathione content and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were observed in the liver after NaNO3 treatment. Furthermore, nitrate caused a significant induction of DNA fragmentation. These modifications in NaNO3-treated rats corresponded histologically with hepatocellular necrosis and mononuclear cells infiltration. H. hirta supplementation showed a remarkable amelioration of the abnormalities cited above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results concluded that the treatment with H. hirta had a significant role in protecting the animals from nitrate-induced liver dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Laboratory, UR/11 ES70, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP1171, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouaziz-Ketata
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax 3029, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ghada Ben
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemistry, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP1171, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hichem Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, CHU Hedi Chaker, Sfax 3029, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marrekchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, CHU Hedi Chaker, Sfax 3029, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jamoussi
authors.affiliation: Histopathology Laboratory, University of Sfax, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Tahia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boudawara
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax 3029, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fakhfekh
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Laboratory, UR/11 ES70, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP1171, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Najiba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeghal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009566:Nitrates; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D008055:Lipids; D009566:Nitrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Antioxidant; Hyparrhenia hirta; Liver; Nitrate toxicity; Oxidative stress; Rat