Protective effects of chlorogenic acid on paraquat-induced oxidative stress in rats

The protective effects of chlorogenic acid on paraquat-induced oxidative stress were examined in rats. The activities of erythrocytes and liver glutathione peroxidase, and of both liver catalase and glutathione reductase, which were increased by feeding paraquat, declined to the levels in the control rats by supplementing chlorogenic acid to the paraquat diet. The activity of superoxide dismutase was not changed by dietary paraquat or by supplementing chlorogenic acid to the paraquat diet. Paraquat in the diet markedly decreased the liver triacylglycerol and phospholipid concentrations, as well as the food intake and body weight gain, while chlorogenic acid protected against these decreases. These in vivo results and the in vitro superoxide anion scavenging activity of chlorogenic acid suggest that chlorogenic acid acted preventively against paraquat-induced oxidative stress.