Antioxidant properties of hesperidin in nicotine-induced lung toxicity

Nicotine, the principal alkaloid in tobacco, is generally considered to be an active pharmacological agent responsible for lung-related disorders. The actions of nicotine have been extensively investigated in animal and variety of cell systems. Nicotine is known to induce the lipid peroxidation by producing reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of hesperidin on nicotine toxicity. The parameters studied were marker enzymes and antioxidant status in blood, tissues, BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage cells) and BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). Lung damage was induced by subcutaneous injection of nicotine at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg body weight for 5 days a week. Hesperidin was administered orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. The results showed an increase in the level of marker enzymes and decrease in the antioxidant status in nicotine-treated rats. Hesperidin treatment resulted in a decreased level of all the marker enzymes and the antioxidant status was brought back to near normal. Thus the study shows that hesperidin offers protection against the lung damage caused by nicotine.