Effect of ellagic acid on cyclosporine A-induced oxidative damage in the liver of rats

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressor, which is most frequently used in the transplant surgery and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It has been shown that CsA is able to generate reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, which are directly involved in the CsA nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound against CsA-induced liver injury in male Wistar rats. In this study, CsA was administered orally (25 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days to induce toxicity. EA was administered orally (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days along with oral administration of CsA. CsA-induced liver damage was evidenced by increased activities of serum hepatic enzymes namely aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase with a significant elevation of lipid peroxidation markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides in the liver. The levels of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase and non-enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione) were also decreased in CsA-treated rats. Administrations of EA at 50 mg/kg body weight significantly decreased the activities of hepatic marker enzymes compared with other doses of EA (12.5, 25 mg/kg body weight). In addition, the levels of TBARS and hydroperoxides were significantly decreased and the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants significant increased on treatment with EA in the liver. The biochemical observation was supplemented by histopathologic examination of liver section. The results of this study indicate that EA might play an important role in protecting CsA-induced oxidative damage in the liver.