1Maysan Health Province, Iraq.
2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
*Corresponding Author: Nada N. Al-Shawi, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad, Iraq. Mob. No. 00964791649 E-mail: nadaalshawi@yahoo.com
Online published on 21 February, 2013.
Cell death is the main component of many response patterns of living tissues to xenobiotics including the organochlorine insecticide, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). One of the possible ways to ameliorate this response is through interference with the process of oxidative stress which can be fulfilled by many candidate substances like green tea.
The present study is designed to evaluate the influence of simultaneous administration of aqueous green tea extract against toxic dose of DDT in rats.
Twenty four white Albino rats of both sexes, weighing 200-250gm were used in this study; these animals classified into four groups (6 animals each) as follow: Group I: Rats received single oral dose of corn oil (3 ml) using gavage tube. This group served as negative control. Group II: Rats received single oral dose of DDT 100mg/kg (dissolved in corn oil) by gavage tube. This group served as positive control of DDT-induced hepatic toxicity. Group III and Group IV: Rats were received oral daily dose of either (1.25% or 10% AGTE, respectively as their sole source of drinking fluid) by feeding bottle for 7-days (started 7-days prior to and during the period of treatment with DDT at day 7, then the animals were anesthetized by ether and sacrificed by decapitation, 24hr after DDT administration).
At the end of treatment, liver homogenate were obtained from each animal and utilized for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and glutathione (GSH) levels. Serum was obtained for the assessment of enzymes activity [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)].
Rats received a single oral dose 100mg/kg/day of DDT (group II) showed an elevation of MDA contents and depletion of GSH levels in liver tissue homogenate compared to control (group I). Rats orally treated with concentrations of either (1.25% or 10%) of AGTE (groups III and IV) showed a significant decrease in MDA contents in liver tissue homogenate and a significant increase in GSH levels in liver tissue homogenate compared to group II.
Rats of group II produced a significant increase in the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP compared to control groups.
Rats of groups III and IV produced a significant decrease in the levels of serum AST, ALT and ALP compared to group II.
From the results obtained in this study we can conclude that aqueous green tea extract have the ability, through a mechanism related to it's antioxidant property to provide protective effects against DDT-induced hepatotoxicity as manifested by reducation of hepatic oxidative stress (reduction in MDA contents with the elevation of GSH levels) with subsequent improvement in liver functions manifested by reduction in the serum levels of (AST, ALT and ALP)], that improving the damage in liver tissue and makes it a good candidate to be tried clinically in this respect.
Green tea extract, DDT, hepatotoxicity, rats
