Hesperidin attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction during benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in mice.

The present study is designed to assess the mitochondrial status during benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice and to reveal the modulatory effect of hesperidin over it. B(a)P (50 mg/kg body weight)-induced mitochondrial abnormalities was evident from alterations in mitochondrial lipid peroxides, antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, reduced glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C), major tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme activities (isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase), electron transport chain (ETC) complexes activities and ATP levels. Ultrastructural changes in lung mitochondria were also in accord with the above aberrations. Hesperidin (25 mg/kg body weight) supplementation effectively counteracted all the above changes and restored cellular normalcy, indicating its protective role during B(a)P-induced lung cancer.