A potential drug for ischemia/reperfusion related liver injury
Hepatic injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) has been proposed as a key clinical problem associated with liver transplantation and major liver surgery. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical, has been demonstrated in reperfusion injury. Resveratrol has been reported to have several biologic effects such as a potent antioxidative effect via prevention of lipid peroxidation. A research team led by Ercan Gedik from Turkey evaluated the possible protective effect of resveratrol against I/R-induced hepatic injury, using biochemical and histological parameters. This will be published on December 14, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.
A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 240-290 g were randomized into four groups of ten: (1) controls: data from unmanipulated animals; (2) sham group: rats subjected to the surgical procedure, except for liver I/R, and given saline; (3) I/R group: rats underwent liver ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 45 minutes; (4) I-R/Resveratrol group: rats pretreated with resveratrol (10 μmol/L, iv). Serum liver enzymes and histological changes were studied. They found that Plasma aminotransferase activities were higher in the I/R group than in the I-R/Resveratrol group. Malondialdehyde levels and the hepatic injury score decreased, while superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels increased in group 4 compared to group 3. In group 4, histopathological changes were significantly attenuated in resveratrol treated livers.
These results suggest that resveratrol has protective effects against hepatic I/R injury, and is a potential therapeutic drug for ischemia reperfusionrelated liver injury