Quantitative ultrastructural analysis of hepatoprotective effects of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on alcoholic liver damage

Biochemical considerations suggest that bioflavonoids may be effective antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective agents. We, therefore, designed a morphometric study to examine the effect of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on ethanol-induced hepatocellular alterations. Using a stereologic point and intersection counting method we determined the volume fraction of cytoplasmic components, the surface area of cytoplasmic membranes, some parameters of mitochondria, and numerical densities of some organelles, after chronic ethanol intoxication and hepato-protective treatment of rats. Consistent with previous qualitative and quantitative descriptions, chronic ethanol feeding caused increases in parameters of mitochondria, microsome, and Golgi complex. The hepatoprotective (+)-cyanidanol-3 treatment restored most of the morphologic distortion caused by ethanol ingestion. The (+)-cyanidanol-3 treatment alone caused an elevation of the surface area of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and nonsignificant changes in mitochondrial parameters, possibly due to its inducing effect on microsomes and activating effect on mitochondrial enzymes. These data indicate that bioflavonoids could be of potential benefit in hepatotoxic or alcohol-related liver disease.