The Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Chronic Hepatic Damage in Rats and Detection of Hepatic Apoptosis by Caspase Activity

Abstract

The present study determined the possible protective effect of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) on cellular apoptosis detection by immunehistochemical method (with (active) caspase-3, -4, 8 and -9 antibodies) in liver tissue and some biochemical parameters; serum ALT activity, vitamin E, plasma 8-OHdG and liver MDA levels, SDH and GPx activities on chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. A total of 80 Wistar rats were divided into eight groups of ten rats each: Group I served as control, receiving vehicle 0.9% NaCl (1.0 mL/kg); Group II was given intraperitoneally CCl4 at a dose of 0.2 mL/kg, 1:1 mixture with corn oil, twice a week for 8 weeks. Groups III, IV and V were daily treated with PSO through gavage for 8 weeks (1, 2 and 3 mL/kg, respectively). Groups VI, VII and VIII were administered with intraperitoneally CCl4 (0.2 mL/kg) twice a week and simultaneously PSO by gavage for 8 weeks (1, 2 and 3 mL/kg, respectively). Groups VII and VIII were showed a partial decrease of steatosis in the hepatocytes while the findings in the Group VI were similar to Group II. Compared to Group II, the severity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were not changed in the Group VI but Group VII and VIII were partially reduced. As a result, although no positive effect of 1 mL/kg PSO on liver damage was observed, it has been concluded that PSO has some ameliorative effects by decreasing the levels of biochemical parameters and histopathology in 2 and 3 mL/kg PSO groups. Dose and duration dependent further investigations need to be performed to understand the dose that produces the best result without any side effect.