The main objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of wheat germ oil from oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) in rats. Fourty five male rats were divided into three equal groups of 15 rats each. Group I (control): rats received no drugs. Group II(Endotoxin group): rats injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with a single dose of LPS (200 mg/Kg b.wt). Group III (wheat germ oil protected group): rats pretreated with wheat germ oil (270 mg/kg b.wt./day) orally for 21 day then injected with a single dose of endotoxin (200 mg/Kg b.wt). Blood samples for serum separation and liver tissues were collected from all animal groups at 1 and 3 hours from the onset of endotoxin injection. All sera were processed directly for determination of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), L-Malondialdehyde (L-MDA), Nitric oxide (NO) and sialic acid, in addition to liver tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), reduced glutathione (GSH),Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and L-Malondialdehyde (MDA) were also determined. The obtained results revealed that, endotoxemia could potentially increase serum TNF-α, IL-6, L-MDA concentrations and markedly decrease NO and sialic acid levels. Moreover, SOD, CAT and MPO activities and GSH concentration in liver tissues were significantly decreased. Pretreatment with wheat germ oil decreased LPS-triggered pathogenic responses and prevented the increase of TNF-α, IL-6 and L-MDA. Moreover, treatment with wheat germ oil in endotoxin injected rats responsible for the protection of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids against lipid peroxidation by increasing the concentrations of tissue GST, SOD, CAT and MPO. From the obtained results it could be concluded that, wheat germ oil protects against lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and decrease the inflammatory response to endotoxin injection. |
