opper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are employed in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and
industrial sectors. Quercetin (QC) is one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids. QC has
anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this investigation, the
hepatoprotective ability of QC against CuO-NP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was assessed. Four
equal groups of twenty-eight mature male albino rats were formed. The first group (G1) was
received saline (1ml per rat) daily via stomach tube for four weeks. G2 was received QC at a dose
of 100 mg/kg b.wt. daily via stomach tube for four weeks. CuO-NPs was administered orally to G3
at a dose of 300 mg/kg b.wt. every day for four weeks. G4 was given CuO-NPs and QC daily in the
same dose and route. After the end of experiment, liver specimens and serum samples were taken
from all groups. Results demonstrated that QC mitigated the hepatic dysfunctions brought on by
CuO-NPs through improvements in serum ALT, AST, and ALP, with a noticeable increase in total
proteins and albumin levels, in addition to improving the antioxidant status as seen by elevated
reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT) activity, and lowered levels of malondialdehyde
(MDA). Furthermore, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT (protein kinase B) genes showed
highly significant up-regulated mRNA levels, whereas nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and signal
transducer and activator of transcription (STAT-3) genes were significantly down-regulated.
Additionally, QC maintained liver tissue architecture, decreased immunoreactivity against caspase-
3 (Cas-3). These results imply that QC might enhance the hepatoprotective benefits against
oxidative stress caused by CuO-NPs toxicity. |
