Extra virgin
olive oil has been shown to be effective against oxidative stress associated diseases. In addition to the high quantities of
oleic acid, it is rich in phenolic compounds. We investigated the protective efficacy of extra virgin
olive oil (EVOO) against the hepatotoxicity induced by both
aluminum and acrylamide. Animals were divided into four groups containing six rats each: group 1, serving as controls, received distilled water; group 2 received
drinking water containing
aluminum chloride (50 mg kg(-1)
body weight) and acrylamide (20 mg kg(-1)
body weight) by gavage; group 3 received both
aluminum and acrylamide in the same ways as well as EVOO (300 μl) by gavage; group 4 received only EVOO by gavage for 3 weeks. The rats exposed to both
aluminum and acrylamide exhibited oxidative stress observed by an increase in MDA,
AOPP and a decrease in GSH, NPSH and
vitamin C levels. The activities of CAT and GPx were decreased, while SOD activity was increased. The liver
metallothioneins, such as MT1 and MT2 genes expression, were also increased. EVOO supplementation improved all the parameters mentioned above. The plasma
transaminases (AST and ALT), LDH activities,
glucose and
albumin levels, TC,
LDL-C levels, TC/HDL-C and
LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were increased, while
high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and TG decreased. The co-administration of EVOO to acrylamide and
aluminum treated rats restored their hepatic markers to near-normal values. Liver histological studies confirmed the biochemical parameters and the beneficial role of EVOO. These results suggest that extra virgin
olive oil, when added to the diet, may have a beneficial role in decreasing the liver damage induced by both
aluminum and acrylamide.