%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of Quercetin on Haematobiochemical and Histological Changes in the Liver of Polychlorined Biphenyls-Induced Adult Male Wistar Rats
%A Kandaswamy Selvakumar
%A Senthamilselvan Bavithra
%A Sekaran Suganya
%A Firdous Ahmad Bhat
%A Gunasekaran Krishnamoorthy
%A Jagadeesan Arunakaran
%J Journal of Biomarkers
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/960125
%X Polychlorinated biphenyls exposure damages the rat liver cells. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red-blood cells, white-blood cells, neutrophils, platelet counts, and RBC indices were significantly decreased. Polymorphs, eosinophil counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly increased. Serum liver enzymes such as aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were increased by PCBs treatment. Serum lipid profiles such as cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and very-low-density lipoproteins were increased in PCBs-treated rats. High-density lipoprotein, total protein, albumin, globulin levels, and albumin/globulin ratio were also decreased after PCB exposure. Then levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were also altered. Serum glucose levels were increased along with total bilirubin after PCBs exposure. Simultaneous quercetin supplementation significantly protected the PCBs-induced changes of hematobiochemical parameters. Thus, quercetin shows a protective role against PCBs-induced alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters. 1. Introduction Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals used in plasticizers, surface coatings, inks, adhesives, flame retardants, pesticide extenders, paints, and microencapsulation of dyes for carbonless duplicating paper. Because PCBs resist both acids and alkalis and are relatively heat-stable, they have been used in dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors. Further environmental contamination may occur from the disposal of old electrical equipment containing PCBs.Their characteristic low solubility, contribute to its ability to bioconcentrate which leads to bioaccumulation. PCBs have been regulated as food contaminants and in foodstuffs. They are generally higher chlorinated with high resistance to metabolic breakdown [1]. The production of PCBs peaked in the 1970s and has steadily declined thereafter as many countries throughout the world have banned their use or limited their production. Nevertheless these compounds remain in use today in our environment and represent a potential human health hazard [2]. PCBs are environmental toxicants associated with numerous adverse health effects, through widespread bioaccumulation in the biosphere and bioconcentration in the food chain [3]. PCB-induced toxic manifestations are associated with the production of free radicals [4]. Oxidative impairment occurs when generation of ROS overrides the ability of the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbm/2013/960125/