Protective effect of Öküzgözü (Vitis vinifera L. cv.) grape juice against carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in rats

The consumption of fruits plays an important role as a health protecting factor. Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are believed to have health benefits due to their antioxidant activity. Okuzgozu is the largest among the grape varieties grown in Turkey. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes free radical generation in many tissues such as the liver, kidney, heart, lung, testis, brain and blood. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only drug to treat primary biliary cirrhosis, but the effects remain controversial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effect of Okuzgozu grape juice or UDCA against tissue damage induced by CCl4 in rats. The amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were found to be 1208.00 ± 43.00 μg ml−1 as the gallic acid equivalent and 5.2 ± 0.19 μg ml−1 as the quercitin equivalent in Okuzgozu grape juice, respectively. In vivo administration of CCl4 caused a significant increase of various biochemical parameters such as alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), total bilirubin (TB) and a decrease in albumin (ALB) levels in serum or an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the tissues when compared to a control. Administration of CCl4 along with Okuzgozu grape juice or ursodeoxycolic acid (UDCA) significantly reduces these changes. Histopathalogical studies also support the protective effect of the extract. This study demonstrates the protective activity of Okuzgozu grape juice and thus scientifically supports the usage of this fruit in various traditional medicines for the treatment of tissue disorders. The effect of Okuzgozu grape juice was comparable with that of UDCA.