Quercetin, a Powerful Antioxidant Bioflavonoid, Prevents Oxidative Damage in Different Tissues of Long-Term Diabetic Rats

Objective: The role of oxidant damage on the development of end-organ injuries caused by diabetic rat is well known. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of quercetin, which is a strong antioxidant bioflavonoid, on oxidant damage and antioxidant capacity in various organs in the case of medium-term or long-term diabetic rat.Material and Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, namely, control group, diabetic group of 8-weeks, diabetic group of 16-weeks, quercetin treated diabetic group of 8-weeks, and quercetin treated diabetic group of 16-weeks. At the end of the experiment, malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured in the lung, aorta, heart, spleen, liver, and kidney tissues.Results: MDA levels were elevated in all tissues except in the lung in non-treated diabetic groups. Quercetin treatment increased the antioxidant enzyme capacities and considerably reduced oxidant damage.Conclusion: We suggest that quercetin has a protective effect on the aorta, heart, brain, liver, and kidneys from oxidant damage in the case of medium-term or long-term diabetic rat. It can be argued that quercetin is effective by increasing the antioxidant defence capacity in this process

Healing effects of L-carnitine on experimental colon anastomosis wound

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of L-carnitine on healing of experimental colon anastomosis injury in early and late period. Materials and Methods: Forty female Wistar-Albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 4 groups (CONT-3, CONT-7, CARN-3, and CARN-7). Injury healing was evaluated for CONT-3 group on the 3rd day and for CONT-7 group on the 7th day following the anastomosis. Following the operation, CARN-3 and CARN-7 groups were intraperitoneally administered with 100 mg/ kg/day L-carnitine and injury healing was evaluated on the 3rd and 7th days. Injury strength, histological evaluation and antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidant damage were determined in tissue samples of anastomosis area. Results: Bursting pressure levels and histological scoring values of CARN-3 group were found to be higher than the CONT-3 group (p<0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activities were found to be high in groups which were administered with L-carnitine, and oxidant damage was found to be significantly low in CARN-7 group (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was seen that L-carnitine speeds up the injury healing process and increases the injury strength and antioxidant capacity in early period. Increase in antioxidant enzyme activities was observed to be continued in late period as well