Modulation effects of quercetin against copper oxide nanoparticles-induced liver toxicity in rats

Background and objectives Despite the several benefits of nanotechnology, studies indicated that certain nanoparticles (NPs) may cause adverse effects because of their minute size and unique properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of quercetin (que) in attenuating toxicity by copper oxide (CuO) NPs in rat liver. Materials and methods The effect of CuO-NPs on the liver was induced by two injections of CuO-NPs (size >20 nm) at the dose 3 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally in different groups of female rats for 7 days. The effects of NPs were tested by evaluating liver function enzymes: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase; antioxidant biomarkers: nitric oxide, catalase activity, reduced glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity; DNA damage as shown by comet assay; and histopathological examination of hepatic tissue. Flavonoids que was administered orally to intoxicated rats at the dose of 200 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days. Results and conclusion The present results indicated significant depletion in serum hepatic enzyme activities and improvement in the cellular antioxidant status of CuO-NPs-intoxicated rats after administration of que. Histopathological examination of hepatic tissue treated with que confirmed the previous biochemical results, which showed normal architecture of hepatic tissues. However, treatment of intoxicated rats with que led to a significant reduction in the DNA damage, tail length, and tail moment. Oxidative stress could be considered to play a key role in liver toxicity by CuO-NPs. This research also showed that que is an effective free-radical quencher and could represent a potential valid therapeutic for hepatotoxicity.