Antioxidative effects of hesperetin against lead acetate-induced oxidative stress in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress with subsequent lipid peroxidation (LP) has been suggested as a mechanism for lead-induced toxicity. The current study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant activity of hesperetin against lead acetate-induced oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The male rats were treated with hesperetin in combination with lead acetate (500 mg/L). RESULTS: The results indicated that hesperetin alone did not induce any significant changes in the biochemistry of serum, liver, and kidney tissues. On the other hand, lead-induced oxidative stress as indicated by significant changes in serum biochemical parameters, including increased lipid peroxide and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in liver and kidney tissues. Hesperetin succeeded in improving these biochemical parameters towards the normal values of control. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that hesperetin shows antioxidant activity and plays a protective role against lead-induced oxidative damage in liver and kidney of rats.