Effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation and liver monooxygenase activity in experimental influenza virus infection

Influenza virus infection was associated with development of oxidative stress in liver of mice, viz. increase in amount of lipid peroxidation products, decrease in cytochrome P-450 and NADP.H-cytochrome c-reductase activity, and inhibition of liver monooxygenases (aniline hydroxylase, ethylmorphine-N-demethylase, amidopyrine-N-demethylase and analgin-N-demethylase). These effects were most pronounced on the 7th day after virus inoculation as compared to the 5th one. Supplementation of mice with vitamin E before virus inoculation leads to liver protection against oxidative stress and toxicosis. A marked decrease of lipid peroxidation products and an increase of cytochrome P-450 and activities of monooxygenases was established. The stabilizing effect of vitamin E was dose-dependent and was most pronounced on the 5th day after virus inoculation as compared to the 7th one.