Protective Effect of Pomegranate Seed Oil against Mercuric Chloride-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat

Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) is an environmental and industrial toxicant that affects many tissues. Considering oxidative stress is an important component of mercury induced hepatotoxicity, antioxidants are expected to play a protective role against it. The present study was designed to investigate the probable effects of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) on hepatotoxicity induced by HgCl2 administration in rats. Rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 and 2 received corn oil (1 mL/kg, i.p.) and PSO (0.8 mL/kg, i.p.), respectively. Group 3 was treated with HgCl2 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days. In groups 4 and 5 PSO (0.4 and 0.8 mL/kg i.p., respectively) was given 1 h before HgCl2 administration. Twenty four hours after last injection of HgCl2, blood samples and specimens of liver were taken. HgCl2 administration led to significant increase in liver malondialdehyde level, significant reduction in total sulfhydryl content and significant changes in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST), compared to control group. The histopathological changes such as necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular vacuolization were observed. PSO administration (0.8 mL/kg i.p.) improved the liver function in HgCl2 intoxicated animals as indicated by the significant decline in increased levels of AST, ALT in serum, MDA level and significant elevation in decreased total sulfhydryl content. Histological studies revealed milder hepatic lesions in PSO treated samples. The results indicated that oxidative stress may be an important mechanism of HgCl2 induced hepatic injury and dysfunction and PSO may be a useful agent for the prevention of HgCl2 induced oxidative damage in rat liver.