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L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol treatment alleviates parabenzoquinone-induced hemato-biochemical and histopathological changes in Wistar rats

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Abstract

Objective

The effect of L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol on parabenzoquinone(p-BQ)-induced hemato-biochemical and histological alterations in the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats was investigated.

Material and methods

Animals (n = 40) were divided into eight groups, all receiving p-BQ(1.5 mg Kg−1, i.p) for 21 days except the control group I which received equal amount of double-distilled water only. Group II served as positive control group, while all other groups received either L-ascorbic acid or α-tocopherol or combination of both L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol for 21 consecutive days.

Results

p-BQ significantly (P < 0.05) increased the neutrophil and platelet counts while reducing (P < 0.05) the total count of RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct, and lymphocyte. Animals administered p-BQ were found to have higher levels of hepatic (ALP, SGOT, and SGPT) and renal (creatinine, urea, and BUN) biomarker activity. Additionally, p-BQ treatment also significantly reduces HDL with concurrent elevation in the serum level of (P < 0.05), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL. In the liver and kidney, p-BQ treatment caused significant reduction in total antioxidant capacity (SOD, CAT, GST& GSH) and also increases the level of MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation. The normal histoarchitecture of the liver and kidney tissues was disrupted indicating severe pathological changes after treatment with p-BQ. However, co-treatment with L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, either alone or in combination, was effective in alleviating p-BQ-induced hemato-biochemical, antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological alterations in the treated animals.

Conclusion

To summarize, it appears that combined treatment with L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol was much more effective in ameliorating p-BQ-induced hematological and hepato-renal toxicity compared to only single vitamin treatment in Wistar rats.

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Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges Institutional Biotech Hub, Department of Biophysics, Pub Kamrup College, Baihata Chariali, Kamrup for support received to conduct a part of the enzymatic assay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell& Molecular Biology Section, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India

    Ritu Mishra, Karabi Dutta & Manuj Kr. Bharali

  2. Cell& Molecular Biology Section, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, 791112, Arunachal Pradesh, India

    Manuj Kr. Bharali

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Correspondence to Manuj Kr. Bharali.

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Ritu Mishra, Karabi Dutta and Manuj Kr. Bharali declare that we have no conflictof interest.

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The experiment protocols were approved by IAEC, Gauhati University, Guwahati. (IAEC/Per/2018-19/PP-IAEC/2018-19/48).

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Mishra, R., Dutta, K. & Bharali, M.K. L-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol treatment alleviates parabenzoquinone-induced hemato-biochemical and histopathological changes in Wistar rats. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 14, 379–387 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-022-00152-7

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