Naringenin modulates circulatory lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidant status and hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes in rats with ethanol induced liver injury.

We have investigated the modulatory efficacy of naringenin on circulatory lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant status, hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes in rats with ethanol induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were divided into four groups: groups 1 and 2 received isocaloric glucose and 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose; groups 3 and 4 received 20% ethanol equivalent to 6 g/kg body weight everyday for the total experimental period of 60 days. In addition, groups 2 and 4 were given naringenin (50 mg/kg) everyday for the last 30 days of the experiment. The results showed significantly elevated levels/activities of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), conjugated dienes (CD) and phase I enzymes, and significantly lowered the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and phase II enzymes in ethanol-fed rats as compared to those of the control. Supplementation with naringenin for the last 30 days of the experiment to ethanol-fed rats, significantly decreased the levels/activities of bilirubin, ALP, LDH, TBARS, LOOH, CD and phase I enzymes, and significantly elevated the activities of ADH, ALDH, SOD, CAT and phase II enzymes as compared to control rats. These findings suggest that naringenin can effectively modulate the hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes in rats with ethanol induced liver injury. 2010 The Authors Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology. 2010 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.