Kinetics of Hesperetin for Liver Fortification in γ-Irradiated Mice

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

 HESPERETIN (3`,5,7-trihydroxy-4`-methoxyflavonone), the aglycone of the flavanone glycosides hesperidin, exerts pharmacological properties such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, blood lipid and cholesterol lowering is effectively used as a supplemental agent in the treatment protocols of complementary settings.
Four groups were prepared: Control group: received 0.5 ml normal saline for 7 days. Hesperetin group: Mice received 7 doses of hesperetin injections (100 mg/ kg body wt/ day). Irradiated group: Mice submitted to total body irradiation with 4 Gy γ-rays. Protected group (Hesperetin plus irradiation): Mice received hesperetin for 7 days and then submitted to 4 Gy of γ-rays. The mice were sacrificed at 24 h, 1 week and 2 weeks after the end of the experimental treatments.
Irradiated mice exhibited significant hyperglycaemia and augmented hepatic glycogen after the first day and 1 week but significant hypoglycemia and reducing hepatic glycogen after 2 weeks. Also, they exhibited significant increased serum total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerols (TG) and decreased hepatic TC and TG after 1 & 2 weeks. This treatment also resulted in a significant dropped in hepatic glucokinase (GK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activities after 1 & 2 weeks.
Hesperetin injections modulated the serum glucose and hepatic glycogen, adjusted TC and TG in both serum and liver and ameliorated the lessening in hepatic GK, G6P and PEPCK.
The attending results demonstrated that hesperetn treatment modulated the biochemical symptoms of radiation disorders in mice.
In conclusion, administration of hesperetin may have a useful role in modulating oxidative stress induced by exposure to γ-radiation by improving the natural antioxidant mechanism and fortification liver functions.

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