Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of grape seeds and skin against Ehrlich solid tumor induced oxidative stress in mice

The current study was conducted to examine the antioxidant effect of grape seeds and skin (GSE and GSK) against Ehrlich solid tumor (EST)-induced oxidative stress, hepatic dysfunction and pathological changes in the liver of albino mice. GSE and GSK were mixed with the standard diet and given to mice 14 days before subcutaneous tumor cells inoculation and continued for 30 days. EST-bearing mice showed increase of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), elevation in lipid peroxidation (MDA) level accompanied by a decline in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels in blood and liver. Histopathologically and ultrastructurally, liver of EST bearing group showed hepatic degeneration with sinusoidal EST and lymphocytic infiltration, increase of collagen fibers, irregular nuclei, altered mitochondria and increase of secondary lysosomes. Histochemically, total protein and DNA contents were reduced in the liver of EST group. Conversely, GSE and GSK supplementation to EST bearing mice potentially recovered liver function enzymes, reduced MDA level, augmented antioxidant parameters, normalized liver protein and DNA contents and improved the pathologically examined hepatic lesions. In conclusion, GSE and GSK revealed potent antioxidant properties by augmenting the antioxidant defense system thereby protecting the liver against oxidative stress induced by Ehrlich solid carcinoma tumors.