The antioxidant effect of boric acid in chronic alcohol abuse

Abstract

Alcohol is a toxin that causes serious damage on many organs depending on the dose and duration of use. Chronic alcohol consumption is the most important factor that leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. In this study, oxidative stress that was generated due to chronic alcohol intake and the protective effect of boric acid was evaluated. Experimental animals were divided into four groups: control, alcohol, alcohol+boric acid and boric acid. The levels of alcohol-induced oxidative stress indicators malondialdehyde ((MDA), total sialic acid (TSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were measured in liver tissues. While the MDA and TSA levels increased significantly in the alcohol group compared to the control group (p<0.05, p<0.01), that of the alcohol+boric acid group decreased significantly compared to the alcohol group (p<0.01, p<0.001). The TSA level was significantly low in the boric acid group as compared to the alcohol group (p<0.001). In the alcohol group, SOD and GPx activities were significantly lowered (p<0.01, p<0.001), while there was an increase in that of the alcohol + boric acid group compared to the alcohol group (p<0.01, p<0.05). SOD and GPx activities increased significantly in the boric acid group compared to the alcohol group (p<0.01, p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups