Hesperidin attenuates inflammation and oxidative damage in pleural exudates and liver of rat model of pleurisy.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of hesperidin against carrageenan induced pleurisy in rat model.

METHODS: Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats (350 - 450g) were grouped as follows: Group I: rats were administered saline solution only (Normal control group); Group II: rats were administered saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) orally and injected with carrageenan (Inflammation control group); Group III: rats were administered hesperidin only (Hesperidin group); Group IV: rats were administered hesperidin orally and intrapleurally injected with 2% carrageenan (Inflammation treated with hesperidin group). The exudate volume, total leukocyte count, reactive oxygen species (ROS), myeloperoxidase (MPO),δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), activities as well as non-protein thiol group (NPSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were determined.

RESULTS: Pretreatment with hesperidin at a dose of 80 mg/kg orally per day for 21 days, minimized the increase in pleural exudate volume and leucocyte count and modulated the activities of MPO, SOD and CAT, as well as the levels of ROS, NPSH and TBARS in carrageenan-induced rats.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hesperidin can elicit its anti-inflammatory action by blocking exudate and leukocyte influx into pleural cavity, inhibiting MPO activity and preventing oxidative damage.