Quercetin Improves Liver Function, Decreases the Expression of Pro-apoptotic Proteins p53 and Bax and Increases the Antioxidant Defense of Hepatocytes in Aged Male Rats

ABSTRACT Aging is a natural biological process that leads to deterioration in the liver structures and functions due to oxidative stress and the reduction in the oxidative damage's tolerance. Quercetin, a flavonoid has the ability to face the oxidative injury through its antioxidant activity. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the possible role of quercetin in modulating liver's function and structure in aged male rats. Forty eight male albino rats (3 and 30 months old) were used. Half of the rats at each age received 200 mg quercetin/Kg every other day for 2 weeks. Thirty months old rats showed a decrease in the liver AST, albumin, SOD, CAT and GPx while showed an increase in the liver ALT, plasma cholesterol and MDA comparing with 3 months old rats. The percentages of p53 and bax positive areas/ field were 26.04% and 24.9%, respectively. After quercetin administration, 30 months old rats showed non-significant change in the previous biochemical parameters compared with 3 months old rats and the percentages of p53 and bax positive areas/ field were 0.6% and 0.9%, respectively. In conclusion, quercetin at a dose of 200 mg/ kg every other day for 2 weeks could improve liver function, decrease the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and bax and increase the antioxidant defense of hepatocytes in aged male rats.