EFFECT OF QUERCETIN EXPOSURE ON SOD ACTIVITY OF RABBITS: GENDER COMPARISON

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to analyze the activity of the chronic application of quercetin in various doses on level of activity superoxide dismutase in rabbit's blood.
Adult female rabbits (n = 20) and male rabbits (n = 20) were used in experiment. Rabbits were divided into a control group (C) and experimental groups (E1 – E3). Experimental groups received quercetin (Sigma Aldrich, Saint Louis, USA) in injectable form (intramuscularly) at 10 µg.kg-1 in E1, 100 µg.kg-1 in E2 and 1000 µg.kg-1 mg.kg-1 in E3 group for 90 days. Control group received injection water (Imuna Pharm a.s. Šarišské Michaľany, Slovak Republic).
Statistical analyses showed significant differences in SOD activity between E1 group in both genders where the lowest dose of quercetin was applied. We found significant lower value in female E1 group in comparison with the E1 male group. The application of quercetin resulted in decrease of SOD activity in all experimental female groups in the comparison with the control group, however differences were not significant. The lowest value in E1 after quercetin treatment was observed.
On the other hand increase of the antioxidant enzyme SOD in all experimental male groups in comparison with the control group was found, but differences were not significant. Generally, quercetin treatment increased SOD activity in male more than in female groups.
Our findings suggest that the natural substance quercetin may have a beneficial effect on level of superoxide dismutase in rabbits. To prove this idea, more experiments and analysis of further parameters of animal homeostasis should be performed.