Protective effect of apigenin against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats

• Male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/ml) separately and along with different doses of apigenin for 21 days.
• A decrease in the levels of blood serum enzymes i.e. SGOT, SGPT, ALP and LDH.
• Histological sections of the liver also revealed a protective effect of apigenin.
• Reduction in the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content was observed.
• A significant decrease in the mean tail length (DNA) of hepatocytes, blood lymphocytes and bone marrow cells.

A number of pharmacological properties have been attributed to apigenin. In the present study the effect of apigenin was investigated with respect to hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), a compound that is present in many food stuffs and has been reported to be a hepatocarcinogen. Male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/ml) dissolved in drinking-water separately, and with 10, 20, or 40 mg/ml of apigenin for 21 days. The activity of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured in blood serum. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and micronucleus frequency were determined in hepatocytes. To assess the effect on DNA damage, the comet assay was performed on hepatocytes, blood lymphocytes and bone-marrow cells of the exposed rats. The results of the study reveal that the treatment of NDEA together with apigenin showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the serum concentration of the enzymes SGOT, SGPT, ALP and LDH (p < 0.05). Histological sections of the liver also showed a protective effect of apigenin. A significant dose-dependent reduction in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content was observed in rats exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/ml) together with apigenin (p < 0.05). The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes, blood lymphocytes and bone-marrow cells showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length (p < 0.05). The present study supports the role of apigenin as an anti-genotoxic and hepatoprotective agent.