Betulinic acid attenuates hepatic and testicular redox imbalance and DNA damage in male rats exposed to crude oil

Abstract

This study investigated the effects Betulinic acid (BA) on CO-induced redox imbalance in liver and testes of rats Twenty-four male rats were assigned into four groups and treated with normal saline (control), BA (20 mg/kg), CO (10 mg/kg) and BA + CO (as stated) for 21 days.. Crude oil decreased hepatic and testicular SOD activities (70% and 50%, respectively) and Hepatic GSH (28%). Hepatic catalase activity significantly decreased in CO group (74%). Crude oil elevated MDA levels in liver (194%) and testes (67%) against controls. Supplementation with BA significantly ameliorated the redox changes induced by CO. DNA fragmentation increased in liver (35.70±5.24%) and testes (50.78±7.32%) in CO group, which BA prevented. Remarkable cytomophorlogical distortions occurred in liver and testes of CO group, but ameliorated on BA supplementation. BA induced activation of antioxidant pathways against CO-induced redox changes and DNA damage in rats.