Hesperidin Ameliorates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

OBJECTIVE

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) is a destructive event associated with high rates of liver failure after liver transplantation. Hesperidin significantly contributes to the antioxidant defense system and has been reported to act as a powerful agent against superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Our objective was to investigate the protective effect of hesperidin against hepatic IR injury in a rat model.

METHODS

We fed Sprague-Dawley rats either hesperidin (100 mg/kg/d) or saline. One week later, ischemia was induced by clamping the rats' common hepatic artery and portal vein for 30 minutes. The rats were divided into 3 groups: 1. the sham operated group; 2. the I/R group; and 3. the I/R-hesperidin group.

RESULTS

Compared to the sham group, the I/R group had higher expression of serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase and lower expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, antioxidant, nitric oxide, and albumin. Compared to the I/R group, the I/R-hesperidin group had higher expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase, antioxidant and nitric oxide and lower expression of serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that hesperidin is a potential therapeutic agent for hepatic I/R injury.