Hesperidin, an antioxidant flavonoid, prevents acrylonitrile-induced oxidative stress in rat brain

ABSTRACT

Acrylonitrile [ACN] is a volatile, toxic liquid used as a monomer in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, styrene plastics, acrylic fiber and adhesives. ACN is a potent neurotoxin. A role for free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in the toxicity of ACN has been suggested. We examined the ability of hesperidin, an antioxidant flavonoid, to attenuate ACN-induced alterations in lipid peroxidation in rat brains. The daily oral administration of ACN to male albino rats in a dose of 50 mg/kg bwt for a period of 28 days produced a significant elevation in brain lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde [MDA] amounting to 107%, accompanied by a marked decrease in brain reduced glutathione [GSH] content reaching 63%. In addition, ACN administration resulted in significant reductions in the enzymatic antioxidant parameters of brain; superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] and glutathione-S-transferase [GST] recording 43%, 64%, 52% and 43%, respectively. On the other hand, pretreatment with hesperidin and its co-administration with ACN once daily in a dose of 200 mg/kg bwt, i.p. for 28 days ameliorated ACN-induced alterations in brain lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that hesperidin may have a beneficial role against ACN-induced oxidative stress in brain; an effect that is mainly attributed to the antioxidant property of hesperidin