The antioxidant effects of ellagic acid (EA) and hesperidin (HES) against skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) were performed. Hindlimb ischemia has been induced by tourniquet occlusion for 2 h on left hindlimb. At the end of ischemia, the tourniquate has been removed and initiated reperfusion for 2 h. EA (100 mg/kg) has been applied orally before ischemia/reperfusion in the EA + I/R group. HES (100 mg/kg) has been given orally in the HES + I/R group. The left gastrocnemius muscle has been harvested and stored immediately at -80 °C until assessed for the levels of MDA and antioxidant enzymes activities. MDA level has statistically increased in I/R group (p < 0.05) compared to other groups. The muscle tissue antioxidant enzymes activities were lower than the other groups in the I/R group (p < 0.05). EA and HES treatments significantly reversed the damage level in I/R, also activity of tissue SOD increased in the EA + I/R and HES + I/R groups.
Keywords: Antioxidant activity; ellagic acid; hesperidin; ischemia/reperfusion injury; skeletal muscle.