Sesamol delays mortality and attenuates hepatic injury after cecal ligation and puncture in rats: role of oxidative stress.

Sesame oil potently protects rats against sepsis, and sesamol appears to be the protective ingredient in sesame oil. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of sesamol on mortality and reactive oxygen species-associated liver injury in Wistar rats with cecal-ligation-and-puncture-induced sepsis (septic rats). After sepsis was induced, sesamol was administered every 6 h. The survival rate was determined during the ensuing 48 h. Hepatic injury was assessed using blood biochemistry and histological examination. Hepatic oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of liver lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion generation, and nitric oxide production 12 h after cecal ligation and puncture. Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression was also determined. Sesamol delayed mortality and attenuated hepatic injury in septic rats. Hepatic lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion levels were significantly lower in sesamol-treated septic rats. Furthermore, sesamol inhibited the production of nitrite and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the liver in septic rats. Therefore, sesamol may delay mortality and attenuate oxidative stress-associated liver injury by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide, at least partially, in septic rats.