Adaptogenic correction of free radical processes in liver tissue under the exposure to coal-rock dust on the body (experimental study)
Authors: Bugaeva Maria S. , Bondarev Oleg I. , Gorokhova Larisa G. , Zhukova Anna G. , Mikhailova Nadezhda N. 
Published: May 2024

Introduction. Damage to the liver under the conditions of long-term exposure to coal-rock dust on the body leads to significant impairment of its metabolic, detoxification, synthetic, and other functions. In this regard, it is relevant to search for early methods of prevention and correction of developing pathological changes in this organ.
The purpose of the study is to experimentally study the effect of a complex drug with dihydroquercetin on the activity of free radical processes in the liver of laboratory rats over the dynamics of long-term exposure to coal-rock dust.
Materials and methods. The work was carried out on male white rats weighing 200–250 g. The control group was kept under the standard vivarium conditions. The experimental group included rats that inhaled coal-rock dust in a priming chamber daily for 4 hours for 1, 3, 6, and 9 weeks and rats that received a daily complex drug with dihydroquercetin immediately before dust exposure. In the liver tissue, the activity of free radical oxidation and antioxidant defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) was determined.
Results. Priming rats with coal-rock dust for three weeks led to the gain in the intensity of free radical processes in the liver tissue: the initial level of accumulation of TBA-active oxidation products reliably raised by almost 2 times over the 1st week and 3 times over the 3rd week of the experiment compared to the control. An increase in the intensity of free radical oxidation was accompanied by activation of antioxidant defense enzymes - catalase - by 2.4 times at the 1st week and 1.6 times at the 3rd week of dust exposure. Raising the period of priming with dust up to 9 weeks led to multidirectional changes in oxidative metabolism in the liver tissue: at week 6, a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase was almost 3 times; at week 9, to a slight activation of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase by 55% and catalase by 36%.The most effective use of a complex drug with dihydroquercetin had been shown in short-term mode for three weeks, but not long-term (more than 6 weeks). The maximum antioxidant defense effect of dihydroquercetin was detected at the 3rd week of dust exposure – the level of free radical products decreased by 2 times and the activity of superoxide dismutase increased by 4 times.
Limitations. Since the issue of organ-specific effects and the optimal duration of use of dihydroquercetin to increase resistance to free radical damage has been little elaborated, this imposes certain restrictions on its use for the correction and prevention of occupational diseases.
Conclusion. The results obtained should be taken into account with long-term use of exogenous antioxidants in the correction and prevention of occupational diseases to support the level of endogenous antioxidant systems in the cell and the protective effect of dihydroquercetin for tissues most sensitive to the action of free radical processes.