Aims: The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of flaxseed oil (FSO) on liver lesions induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats by measurement of caspase 3, 8 and 9 activities in cellular apoptosis, ALT activities, triglyceride, total protein, total cholesterol and liver MDA levels. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, between June 2017 and July 2018. Methodology: In this study 32 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of 8 animals in each. The first group was identified as the control and received an intraperitoneal 0.9% NaCl and the second group was given per os at dose of 4 ml/kg FSO for 4 weeks. The third group received an intraperitoneal dose of 1.0 ml/kg CCl4 twice in the first week. The fourth group received an intraperitoneal dose of 1.0 ml/kg CCl4 twice in the first week and simultaneously 4 ml/kg FSO by gavage for 4 weeks. Results: Histopathological examination of CCl4 group showed intense macro and micro vesicular steatosis in hepatocytes, necrosis, lymphocytes rich mononuclear cell infiltration in portal area and parenchyma. The flaxseed oil application did not ameliorate the histological changes induced by CCl4, however reduced the activity of caspase 3, 8 and 9 by a limited number. CCl4 administration produced significantly elevated levels of serum ALT activity, total cholesterol, triglyceride and liver MDA levels, and these increases were not normalized with FSO treatment. In addition, decreased serum total protein levels in CCl4 treated group were ameliorated by FSO application. Conclusion: The results indicate that the antioxidant properties of FSO do not have an ameliorative effect in either the histopathological lesions or biochemical parameters against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In addition, it was concluded that duration‐dependent further research results are needed to determine the effects of flaxseed oil in high doses that can give the best results without side effects.

Amaç: Çalışmada, karbon tetraklorür (CCl4) ile kronik karaciğer hasarı oluşturulan ratlarda Biberiye (BE) ekstraktının koruyucu etkisi, hücresel apoptozun kaspaz 3, 8 ve 9 antikorları ile değerlendirilmesi ve serum ALT (alanin amino transferaz) aktivitesi, Trigliserit, Total protein, Albümin, total Kolesterol, karaciğer MDA (malondialdehit) düzeyleri ile Total antioksidan kapasitesi (TAK) belirlendi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada, 40 adet (200-250 gr) Wistar albino erkek rat, 10'arlı 4 gruba ayrıldı. İlk grup kontrol olup % 0,9 NaCl (0,2 mL/kg/canlı ağırlık) uygulandı. İkinci gruba 12 hafta her gün sırası ile 200 mg/kg/canlı ağırlık dozunda biberiye ekstraktı gavajla verildi. Üçüncü gruba 8 hafta boyunca haftada 2 kez 1:1 oranında mısır yağı ile dilüe edilen CCl4 (İP) 0,2 mL/kg/canlı ağırlık dozun da enjekte edildi. Dördüncü gruba 12 hafta her gün 200 mg/kg/canlı ağırlık dozunda biberiye ekstraktı gavajla verilirken aynı gruba beşinci hafta dahil 8 hafta intraperitoneal (İP) 0,2 mL/kg/canlı ağırlık olarak haftada iki doz CCl4 uygulandı. Bulgular: Grup I ve II'de karaciğer dokusu normal yapıda; Grup III'de hepatositlerde yoğun makro-mikroveziküler yağlanma, parankimde çoğunluğu lenfositlerden oluşan mononüklear hücre infiltrasyonları, nekroz, portal hafif fibrozis ile parankimde pseudolobulasyon görüldü. Grup IV'de bulgular da kısmi azalmaya rağmen Grup III'e benzer histoloji dikkati çekti. Grup I ve II'de kaspaz 3, 9 pozitif 8 negatifti. Grup III ve VI'de kaspaz 3, 8 ve 9 pozitifti. Grup IV'de kaspaz-3 gibi kaspaz-9'unda ve kısmen azalmış olması, biberiye ekstraktının sınırlı da olsa karaciğer dokusunu koruyabileceğini düşündürmüştür. Grup III'de artmış serum ALT aktivitesi Grup IV'de normal değerlere yaklaştı. Grup III'de ki serum trigliserit düzeylerindeki artışlar (P=0,001), Grup IV'de sayısal olarak azaldı. Grup III'de MDA seviyesi yüksek (P<0,05), TAK seviyesi düşükken, Grup IV'de MDA seviyesi önemli düzeyde düşüş (P<0,001). Sonuç: Grup IV'de biyokimyasal veriler karaciğer hasarının iyileştiği gösterirken, histopatolojik lezyonlar üzerine olumlu bir etki gözlenmemiştir. Bu nedenle biberiye ekstresinin farklı sürelerde ve yan etki oluşturmaksızın en iyi sonucu verecek yüksek dozlarda kullanılarak, etkisinin belirlenmesine yönelik yeni araştırmalara ihtiyaç olduğu kanaatine varıldı.

Aims: The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of grape seed oil (GSO) on liver lesions induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The effects on hepatic injury were investigated by measuring serum levels of ALT, triglyceride, total protein, total cholesterol and liver levels of MDA. Furthermore, caspase -3, -8 and -9 activities in cellular apoptosis were determined. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, between November 2017 and September 2018. Methodology: In this study 40 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups including 10 animals in each. Control group administered with 0.9% NaCl. The second group was administered with 4 mL/kg GSO for twelve weeks. Third group were given CCl4 (0.2 mL/kg) twice for 8-weeks. Fourth group was administered with 4 mL/kg GSO, for 12 weeks and also given CCl4 (0.2 mL/kg) twice for 8 weeks, starting from the 5th week. Results: Histopathological examination of CCl4 group showed intense macro and micro vesicular steatosis in hepatocytes, necrosis, and lymphocytes rich mononuclear cell infiltration in portal area and mild portal fibrosis in the parenchyma. The grape seed oil applications have partially normalized the altered histological changes and the activity of caspase -3, -8 and -9. Administration of GSO led to a decline in the activities of ALT and MDA levels while this treatment elevated serum triglycerides levels which are not significantly important. Conclusion: The results indicate that the antioxidant properties of GSO have not ameliorative effect in either the histopathological lesions or biochemical parameters against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Also, it has been concluded that duration‐dependent further research results are needed to determine the effects of grape seed oil in high doses which can give the best results without side effects.