Experimental study on protective effects of Hesperetin against intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

The intestinal mucosa is known to be adversely affected by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). It has been demonstrated that Hesperetin has protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury on various organs. The aim of this study is to determine protective effects of Hesperetin on I/R injury of the intestine in rats. For this purpose, forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as control (group 1), sham IR (group 2), intestinal IR (group 3) and Hesperetin plus intestinal IR (group 4). Intestinal IR was produced by 30 min of intestinal ischemia followed by a 60 min of reperfusion. Rats in the group 4 received Hesperetin (1000 U/kg) subcutaneously, 120 minutes before ischemia. After the experiments, the colon was removed and the tissues were processed for histopathological examination. Serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), and levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in colon tissue. Histopathology show that, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperemia and hemorrhage in lamina propria, as well as epithelial cell necrosis and reduction of mucosal thickening in colon tissues of the intestinal IR group. Administration of Hesperetin alleviated the colon damage in group 4. Levels of TAA, SOD, CAT, GPx and GR decreased in the intestinal IR group, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in the IR+ Hesperetin group. Hesperetin significantly (p<0.05) decreased MDA levels which was increased by IR. The results of this study, showed that Hesperetin treatment protected the rat's intestinal tissue against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.