Biochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Quercetin On Experimental Acute Methanol Intoxication in Rats

Previous studies have shown the role of oxidative stress in methanol toxicity. Also, studies have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin (Q). This study evaluates the effect of quercetin (Q) administration on total oxidant status (TOS), total anti-oxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and paraoxanase 1 (PON1) levels in rats with experimentally-induced methanol (MeOH) intoxication. Six groups were constituted as control, methotrexate (Mtx), Mtx+MeOH, Mtx+MeOH+ethanol (EtOH), Mtx+MeOH+Q1, Mtx+MeOH+Q2. All rats except controls were injected Mtx (0.3 mg/kg daily) intra-peritoneally (IP) for 7 days. On the 8th day of the test, 3 g/kg MeOH was injected IP in MeOH, EtOH and Q groups. Four hours after MeOH administration, 0.5 g/kg EtOH was injected IP in EtOH group and 50 mg/kg Q was administered IP in Q1 and Q2 groups. In addition, a total of 5 doses of 50 mg/kg Q was injected IP 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after the first dose in Q2 group. Saline solution was given IP in the other groups. Rats were sacrificed with anesthesia 8 hours after the administrations. Blood samples were obtained for evaluating total oxidant status (TOS), total anti-oxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and paraoxanase 1 (PON1) levels. The highest TOS level was found in MeOH+MTx group. A significant reduction was detected in serum TOS levels in MeOH+Mtx+EtOH, MeOH+Mtx+Q1 and MeOH+Mtx+Q2 groups. The lowest serum TAS level was detected in MeOH+Mtx group. Maximum TAS level elevation was found in MeOH+Mtx+Q2, MeOH+Mtx+Q1 and MeOH+Mtx+EtOH groups. The highest OSI ratio was found in MeOH+Mtx group. A reduction was detected in OSI ratios in MeOH+Mtx+EtOH, MeOH+Mtx+Q1 and MeOH+Mtx+Q2 groups as compared to MeOH+Mtx group. The lowest serum PON1 level was found in MeOH+Mtx group. Maximum serum PON1 level elevation was found in MeOH+Mtx+Q2 group. The results indicating that quercetin administration could be effective on both acute and subacute processes of methanol intoxication were tried to be revealed through serum TOS, TAS, OSI and PON1 levels. These results show that quercetin could be used as an alternative treatment option in methanol intoxication.