Flavonoids are a group of naturally occurring compounds widely distributed as secondary metabolites in the plant kingdom. They have been recognized for having interesting clinical properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumoral activities. 1) In fact, the pharmacological effects of many traditional drugs may be ascribed to the presence of flavonoid compounds, which 2,3) are due to the inhibiting ability of certain enzymes and their antioxidant activity.One to these flavonoids, quercetin (3,5,7,3Ј,4Ј-pentahydroxyflavone), prevents oxidant injury and cell death 4) by several mechanisms, such as scavenging oxygen radicals 5,6) protecting against lipid peroxidation 7,8) and chelating metal ions.9) Some investigators have demonstrated that quercetin, when coadministered with ethanol, reduced ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis and lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the gastroprotective effect of quercetin could be due to its antiperoxidative, antioxidant, and antihistaminic effects. [10][11][12] Experimental evidence has demonstrated that some of the deleterious effects of ethanol are attributed to the induction of metabolic processes which lead to an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). 13,14) In hepatocytes, ROS are generated, as a consequence of the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde, mainly through the intervention of the ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450 (CYP2El).
15)Organisms have developed a variety of antioxidant defence systems as a protection from ROS. The major endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx-Se), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR). The major nonenzymatic endogenous antioxidants include the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E. However, ethanol or its metabolites can alter the redox balance in the liver towards a more oxidized state, either acting as a prooxidant or reducing the antioxidant cell defences. 16) On the basis of these considerations, the aim of the present study was to evaluate if quercetin and vitamin E (a-tocopherol, reference substance) treatments have a protective effect in alcoholic liver injury in mice. In this study, these substances were administered either before or following ethanol intoxication in order to determine whether they could prevent and/or alleviate ethanol-induced injury. Our hypothesis is that increasing the diet antioxidant concentration may make it possible to prevent the incidence of alcoholic diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
AnimalsMale Swiss mice aged 7-12 weeks were used in all experiments and were housed under controlled environmental conditions (12 h light/12 h dark). The animals were permitted unlimited access to food and water. A group of animals used to determine the effects of chronic exposure to alcohol was given ethanol by intragastric administration for 30 d. Ethanol (5 g/kg of body weight) was diluted (18% v/v) in water. Quercetin and vitamin E ...