Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Animal Production Department, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qasim Green, Babil, Iraq. Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
2
c Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
3
Department of Animal Production, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
4
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran, postal code: 31979-37551.
5
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/ajp.2026.27716
Abstract
Objective: Cholestasis, caused by impaired bile secretion or biliary obstruction, is associated with oxidative stress and liver injury. This study investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of carrot (Daucus carota) seed essential oil in a cholestatic rat model, focusing on oxidative stress– and apoptosis-related gene expression.
Materials and methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham-operated, bile duct ligation (BDL), and BDL treated with D. carota seed essential oil (2 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Blood and liver samples were analyzed using biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular methods.
Results: BDL significantly increased serum ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, and oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.001). RT-PCR analysis showed significant downregulation of antioxidant-related genes, including SIRT1, FOXO1, and Nrf2, in cholestatic rats. Treatment with carrot seed oil significantly restored the expression of these genes while reducing inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NF-κB (p < 0.01). In addition, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression was significantly decreased in treated animals compared with untreated BDL rats (p < 0.001). Histological findings further demonstrated improvement in hepatic tissue architecture following treatment.
Conclusion: Carrot seed essential oil exerts potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects in cholestatic rats through modulation of the SIRT1/FOXO1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and suppression of inflammatory responses, highlighting its therapeutic potential against oxidative stress–related liver injury and fibrosis.
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