The Antioxidant Effect of p-Coumaric Acid Against Toluene-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

This research aimed to investigate the protective effect of p-CA, a derivative of phenolic acid, against toluene-induced oxidative damage. A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley male rats, 8 in each group, were used. A total of 4 groups were formed as control, toluene, p-CA and toluene+pCA. Animals in the control group, toluene group and p-CA group were given 0.9 % NaCl, 0.9 mg kg(-1) b.w toluene and 100 mg kg(-1) b.w p-CA orally for 21 days, respectively. The animals in toluene+p-CA group were received p- CA for 3 days and from day 4, toluene and p-CA were applied together daily until day 25. On the 25th day, the study was terminated, and blood samples were collected. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the erythrocytes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in plasma samples were determined. In this study, CAT and SOD activities and MDA level significantly (p <0.05) increased, GSH level and GSH-Px activity significantly (p <0.05) decreased in the blood samples of toluene group compared to the control group. In toluene+p-CA group, significant (p <0.05) increases in GSH level and GSH-Px activity and significant (p <0.05) decreases in MDA level and SOD and CAT activities were detected compared to the toluene group. It has been determined that toluene caused oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in blood tissue and against this oxidative damage, p-CA had a protective effect.