Modulatory Role of Quercetin in Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Background : Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles are among the largely manmade nanomaterials worldwide and are broadly used as both industrial and user products. The primary target site for several nanoparticles is the liver, including TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs), exposed directly or indirectly through ingestion of contaminated water, food, or animals and elevated environmental contamination. Oxidative stress is a known facet of nanoparticle-induced toxicity, including TNPs. Mitochondria are potential targets for nanoparticles in several types of toxicity, such as hepatotoxicity. Nevertheless, its causal mechanism is still controversial due to scarcity of literature linking the role of mitochondria-mediated TNP-induced hepatotoxicity. Aim : The objective of the current study was to evaluate the relation of mitochondrial oxidative stress and respiratory chain mechanisms with TNP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro, and explore the hepatoprotective effect of quercetin (QR), which is a polyphenolic flavonoid abundant in fruits and vegetables with known antioxidant properties, on TNP-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress and disturbance in respiratory chain complex enzymes in the liver of rats. Results: Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels, oxidative stress markers, and mitochondrial complexes were assessed with regard to TNP-induced hepatotoxicity. The depleted lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyl content, in mitochondria, induced by TNPs were restored significantly by pretreatment with QR. QR modulated the altered non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants and mitochondrial complex enzymes. Conclusion : Based on the findings, we conclude that QR, which mitigates oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, holds promising capability to potentially diminish TNP-induced adverse effects in the liver.