Background: During liver surgery and liver transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion
(I/R) is an unavoidable and major unresolved problem. Therefore, various
pharmacologic approaches to prevent hepatic UR injury are currently under trial. In
this study, the effects of oral administration of caffeic acid on lipid peroxidation,
antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase and DT-diaphorase was investigated.
Methods: Albino rats were classified into 3 groups. Group I served as sham
operation, normal control group. In-group 2 and 3, the hepatic artery and portal vein
were occluded for 30 minutes then reperfusion was done. Rats in-group I (normal
control) and group 2 (non-treated I/R) groups received 1 ml saline orally. Rats ingroup
3 (treated I/R group), received caffeic acid (100 mg/kg) orally half an hour
before occlusion. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) were measured in serum of blood samples taken from cannulated carotid
artery. Lipid peroxides content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and DT-diaphorase
activities were measured in liver homogenate 3 hours after reperfusion.
Results: There was a significant elevation in the activities of AST and ALT in nontreated
I/R group compared to sham operated control group, while in caffeic acid
treated-UR group, there was significant reduction compared to non-treated UR group.
Moreover, lipid peroxides in liver homogenate was significantly elevated in group 2
compared to group 1, while in caffeic acid treated group 3, lipid peroxides decreased
significantly compared to group 2. SOD and DT-diaphorase in liver homogenate were
significantly decreased in group 2 compared to group 1, while in caffeic acid treated
group 3, there was significant increase compared to group 2.
Conclusion: caffeic acid was proved to be protective agent against ischemiareperfusion
induced hepatic injury in rats, an action that might be mediated through
inhibition of antioxidant effect. This finding remains to be confirmed clinically. |
