Cloudy apple juice protects against chemical-induced oxidative stress in rat.

BACKGROUND

Apples abundant in phenolic compounds show a variety of biological activities that may contribute to beneficial effects against some chronic diseases.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess the protective effect of cloudy apple juice against chemical-induced oxidative stress in rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were treated with apple juice per os, 10 mL/kg/day for 28 days and with a single dose of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), 150 mg/kg or carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), 2 mL/kg, 24 h before killing. Two groups of rats not pretreated with juice were administered each of the xenobiotics alone.

RESULTS

Microsomal lipid peroxidation in the liver was decreased in rats pretreated with juice by 52-87% when compared to animals given NDEA or CCl(4) alone. Pretreatment with juice protected antioxidant enzymes: catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase but not superoxide dismutase. Their activity was recovered by 49-173% when compared to that in rats given either toxicant alone. The plasma activity of paraoxonase 1 was reduced by both toxicants and was increased by 23% in the apple/CCl(4) group. A rise in plasma protein carbonyls caused by the xenobiotics was reduced by 20% only in apple/NDEA-treated rats. Also, in this group of animals, a 9% decrease in DNA damage in blood leukocytes was observed.

CONCLUSION

Phytochemicals in commonly consumed apple juice may protect some macromolecules against oxidative insult induced by xenobiotics.