Antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of Salep on Paraquat-induced rat liver injury

Table 1 The serum levels of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, malondialdehyde and total oxidant capacity in different study groups

Group/parameter	AST (IU/L)	ALT (IU/L)	ALP (IU/L)	Bilirubin (mg/dL)	MDA (nmol/L)	TOC (IU/mL)
Control	183.4 ± 2.19	95.4 ± 2.52	138.4 ± 4.55	0.8 ± 0.02	0.13 ± 0.005	0.18 ± 0.01
Sham	185.5 ± 2.19	94.7 ± 3.00	138.9 ± 5.01	0.8 ± 0.02	0.13 ± 0.007	0.18 ± 0.01
Paraquat at 2 mg/kg	563.2 ± 11.43a	265.5 ± 7.48a	736.1 ± 4.21a	2.4 ± 0.05a	3.36 ± 0.06a	2.02 ± 0.05a
Paraquat + Salep at 40 mg/kg	536.4 ± 14.44b	252.5 ± 6.25b	730.0 ± 9.30b	2.3 ± 0.04b	3.27 ± 0.03b	1.98 ± 0.05b
Paraquat + Salep at 80 mg/kg	517.2 ± 7.30bc	234.7 ± 7.14bc	709.0 ± 9.14bc	2.0 ± 0.04bc	2.92 ± 0.13bc	1.77 ± 0.05bc
Paraquat + Salep at 160 mg/kg	460.5 ± 12.01bc	209.4 ± 4.55bc	626.4 ± 6.74bc	1.7 ± 0.03bc	2.48 ± 0.05bc	1.55 ± 0.04bc
Paraquat + Salep at 320 mg/kg	376.5 ± 12.07bc	166.0 ± 3.75bc	428.1 ± 7.25bc	1.1 ± 0.03bc	1.22 ± 0.04bc	1.20 ± 0.03bc

^aSignificant difference between Sham and Paraquate- exposed Group;

^bSignificant difference between Sham and Paraquate + Salep treated Group;

^cSignificant difference between Paraquate-exposed and Paraquate + Salep Treated Group (Based on Duncan’s test). The means are presented in the form of Mean ± SEM. P < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; MDA: Malondialdehyde; TOC: Total oxidant capacity.

Table 2 The serum levels of albumin, total protein and total antioxidant capacity in different study groups

Group/parameter	Total protein (g/dL)	Albumin (g/dL)	TAC (IU/mL)
Control	8.0 ± 0.19	5.0 ± 0.13	1.11 ± 0.02
Sham	7.9 ± 0.26	5.1 ± 0.18	1.6 ± 0.04
Paraquat at 2 mg/kg	4.2 ± 0.09a	2.5 ± 0.06a	0.40 ± 0.02a
Paraquat + Salep at 40 mg/kg	4.1 ± 0.05b	2.6 ± 0.5b	0.43 ± 0.02b
Paraquat + Salep at 80 mg/kg	5.0 ± 0.10bc	3.1 ± 0.04bc	0.66 ± 0.03bc
Paraquat + Salep at 160 mg/kg	5.7 ± 0.09bc	3.6 ± 0.07bc	0.82 ± 0.05bc
Paraquat + Salep at 320 mg/kg	6.6 ± 0.11bc	5.0 ± 0.07bc	1.10 ± 0.03bc

^aSignificant difference between Sham and Paraquate-exposed Group;

^bSignificant difference between Sham and Paraquate + Salep treated Group;

^cSignificant difference between Paraquate- exposed and Paraquate + Salep treated Group ( Based on Duncan’s test). The means are presented in the form of Mean ± SEM. P < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. TAC: Total antioxidant capacity.

Table 3 The effect of aqueous extract of Salep roots on Paraquate - induced rat liver injury

Group/damage score	Control	Sham	Paraquat 2 mg/kg	Paraquat+ Salep at 40 mg/kg	Paraquat+ Salep at 80 mg/kg	Paraquat+ Salep at 160 mg/kg	Paraquat+ Salep at 320 mg/kg
Portal congestion and inflammation
Score 0	8	8	0	0	0	0	1
Score 1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Score 2	0	0	0	1	2	3	1
Score 3	0	0	2	2	2	1	1
Score 4	0	0	6	5	4	4	0
Necrosis
Score 0	8	8	0	0	0	0	1
Score 1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Score 2	0	0	1	2	2	2	3
Score 3	0	0	2	1	2	2	0
Score 4	0	0	5	5	4	3	0
Interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells
Score 0	8	8	0	0	0	0	1
Score 1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Score 2	0	0	1	1	1	3	2
Score 3	0	0	1	2	3	2	1
Score 4	0	0	6	5	4	2	0

Zero: No damage; 1: Minimum damage; 2: Mild damage; 3: Average damage; 4: Severe damage. Scoring was performed in five microscopic fields of each cut, randomly, with magnification of × 100.