Protective effects of Urtica dioica L. seed extract on liver tissue injury and antioxidant capacity in irradiated rats

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2020-01, Vol.56
• Main Authors: Yıldızhan, Kenan, Demirtaş, Ömer Can, Uyar, Ahmet, Huyut, Zübeyir, Çakir, Tahir, Keleş, Ömer Faruk, Yener, Zabit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Antioxidants; Cancer therapies; Drug dosages; Liver; Oxidative stress; PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY; Radiation; Radiation therapy; seed extract; Seeds; Tissue injury; Urtica dioica L
• ISSN: 2175-9790; 1984-8250; 2175-9790
• DOI: 10.1590/s2175-97902019000318354

Radiotherapy is often used for the treatment of cancer. However, it causes some side effects in patients. This study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effects of Urtica dioica L. seed-extract (UDSE) in radiation-induced liver injury. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8): control(C) group: no action was taken; radiation (R) group: irradiation was administrated at 5Gy single-fraction, radiation with UDSE(R+UDSE) group: irradiation was administrated at 5 Gy single-fraction and animals were fed pellets with 30 mL UDSE/kg; UDSE group: animals were fed pellets with 30 mL UDSE/kg. All of the experiments were performed in all of the groups over 10 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced-glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide-dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px), aspartate-transaminase (AST), and alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) activities were determined. Histopathological findings were also evaluated in liver tissues. SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities and GSH levels in the serum and liver were significantly increased, while MDA levels decreased in the R+UDSE group compared with the R group (P