Liver damage severity depends on both the dose and the exposure duration. Oxidative stress may increase the Ochratoxine-A (OTA) hepatotoxicity and many antioxidants may counteract toxic liver function. The present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of Azadirachta indicaA (A. indica; neem oil) seed oil to reduce acute oxidative disorders and residual OTA toxicity in a 28-day experimental model. The activity of antioxidant and hepatic enzymes, cytokines and the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers -MDA, GSPx, Hydroxiproline, GST, PCC, AGEs, PGC-1, and STIR-1 were analyzed by ELISA. The free radicals ROS and RNS levels were measured by EPR. The protective effects were studied in BALB/C mice treated with A. indica seed oil (170 mg/kg), alone and in combination with OTA (1.25 mg/kg), by gavage daily for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, mice treated with OTA showed changes in liver and antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress parameters in the liver and blood. A. indica oil significantly reduced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation compared to the OTA group. In addition, the hepatic histological evaluation showed significant adipose tissue accumulation in OTA-treated tissues, while treatment with 170 mg/kg A. indica oil showed moderate adipose tissue accumulation.
Keywords: A. indica oil; GSPx; GST; Hyd; OTA; PGC-1; STIR-1; cytokines.