Quercetin Inhibits Heart Injury in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Endotoxemic Model by Suppressing the Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the histopathological and biochemical effects of quercetin (QE), which has antioxidant properties, on damaged heart muscle in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia model in rats. STUDY DESIGN: Rats were divided into 4 groups: Control, QE, LPS, and LPS+QE. Escherichia coli LPS, 10 mg/kg, was administered intravenously to induce endotoxemia in the LPS and LPS+QE groups. A single dose of 50 mg/kg QE was administered intraperitoneally to QE groups 30 minutes prior to administering LPS. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 6-hour period following LPS application. RESULTS: It was observed in histopathological evaluations that the heart tissue injury and inflammation in the LPS groups were higher than those of the LPS+QE group, and that QE partially prevented damage caused by endotoxemia. Rats in the LPS groups demonstrated significantly increased tissue malondialdehyde levels and significantly decreased enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase and catalase in the cardiac tissue. It was observed that QE treatment increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme levels that decreased after LPS. CONCLUSION: QE with antioxidant properties prevented heart damage caused by free oxygen radicals that occurred after LPS-induced endotoxemia and increased the antioxidant defense system.