Effect of some flavonoids and sodium selenite on mercury-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male rats

Abstract

Mercury is a hazardous environmental and industrial pollutant which induces severe alterations in the body tissues of both humans and animals. Most studies focused on the neurotoxic effects of mercury and only a handful of studies investigated its deleterious effect on liver. The present study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of mercury by assessing the changes caused in many biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and oxidative stress. The prophylactic effects of flavonoids (morin, naringin and hesperetin) and sodium selenite in counteracting or preventing the damage caused by mercury chloride were also investigated. Mercuric chloride-intoxication resulted significant elevations in serum activities or levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), catalase, MDA, total protein, globulins, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, IL-6 and TNF-α. It also resulted in significant reductions in RBCs, Hb, A/G ratio, compared with control group.