Thymoquinone Treatment Alleviate Ovariectomy-Induced Hepatic Oxidative Damage in Rats

The present study has designed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone (THQ) on the status of hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system following ovariectomy (OVX) in Wistar rats. Animals were randomly assigned into five groups; sham, OVX and OVX+THQ treated groups in three doses (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day) orally by gavage for eight weeks. In serum, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were estimated. In liver tissue, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (T-GSH), non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH) levels as well assuperoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were also determined. Serum pre-oxidative markers (AST, ALT and ALP) were significantly increased in OVX rats compared to sham group. THQ inhibited these levels in a dose dependent manner. The lipid peroxidation product, TBARS, was significantly increased in OVX animals, which was inhibited by the THQ. In contrast, T-GSH and NP-SH levels were decreased in OVX rats, THQ treatments ameliorated these levels. Activities of SOD and CAT were significantly reduced in OVX group. THQ treatments significantly enhanced their activities in a dose dependent manner.The present results revealed the preventive effect of THQ on hepatic oxidative damage-induced by ovariectomy in rats.