Antioxidant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Rhamnus frangula on benzopyrene-induced toxicity in mice

Benzopyrene is known as a carcinogen compound and an increaser of oxidative stress and apoptosis. Rhamnus frangula L. (Siatooseh) contains flavonoids with strong antioxidant activity that protect cells against oxidative stress and cell death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of Siatooseh against the effects of exposure to benzopyrene (BaP) compared to vitamin E in mice. Male mice were randomly divided into 11 normal control groups, receiving olive oil (benzopyrene solvent), vitamin E, BaP, Siatooseh in three doses, BaP with different doses of Siatooseh, and BaP with vitamin E. In order to compare the average data, statistical tests of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were used. The results showed that BaP injection significantly decreases antioxidants and increases MDA in blood. These changes were significantly improved in the group exposed to high doses of Siatooseh, while vitamin E treatment was not able to reduce the oxidative stress caused by benzopyrene. The results of this study showed that hydroalcoholic extract of Siatooseh plays an important role against oxidative toxicity caused by benzopyrene by improving antioxidant parameters and reducing lipid peroxidation, which can even work better than vitamin E in laboratory animals.