Journals / Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 2

Biochemical Antioxidant Effects of Ellagic Acid Against Di-(n)-butyl Phthalate–Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain Tissue

Sıçan Beyin Dokusunda Di-(n)-bütil Ftalat Kaynaklı Oksidatif Strese Karşı Elajik Asidin Biyokimyasal Antioksidan Etkileri

İdris Ayhan(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-4625-7218
Neşe Başak Türkmen(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ECZACILIK FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-5566-8321
Demet Döndü Kasım(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-0343-1255
Osman Çiftçi(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-5755-3560
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-08-27
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings indicate that DBP disrupts redox homeostasis by inducing lipid peroxidation, while EA mitigates this effect through restoration of antioxidant defenses.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a widely used plasticizer, induces oxidative stress and neurotoxicity through the generation of reactive oxygen species.
📊
Key Findings & Data:DBP was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day, while EA was given by gavage at 2 mg/kg/day for four weeks.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These findings indicate that DBP disrupts redox homeostasis by inducing lipid peroxidation, while EA mitigates this effect through restoration of antioxidant defenses.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antioxidant Enzymes · Di-n-butyl Phthalate · Ellagic Acid

Abstract

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a widely used plasticizer, induces oxidative stress and neurotoxicity through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural polyphenolic antioxidant, may counteract these effects. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of EA against DBP-induced oxidative brain injury. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, DBP, EA, and DBP+EA. DBP was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day, while EA was given by gavage at 2 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Oxidative stress parameters, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were analyzed in brain tissue. DBP exposure significantly increased TBARS levels while decreasing GSH and SOD activities, indicating lipid peroxidation and antioxidant depletion. In contrast, CAT activity was elevated, suggesting a compensatory enzymatic response to excess hydrogen peroxide. EA treatment markedly attenuated oxidative damage by restoring GSH and SOD levels and normalizing CAT activity. These findings indicate that DBP disrupts redox homeostasis by inducing lipid peroxidation, while EA mitigates this effect through restoration of antioxidant defenses.

Özet

Di-n-butil ftalat (DBP), yaygın olarak kullanılan bir plastikleştirici olup, reaktif oksijen türlerinin (ROS) oluşumu yoluyla oksidatif stres ve nörotoksisiteye neden olur. Doğal bir polifenolik antioksidan olan elajik asit (EA), bu etkileri dengeleyebilir. Bu çalışmada, EA’nın DBP kaynaklı oksidatif beyin hasarına karşı koruyucu rolü araştırılmıştır. Otuz iki erkek sıçan rastgele dört gruba ayrılmıştır: Kontrol, DBP, EA ve DBP+EA. DBP, oral yolla 500 mg/kg/gün dozunda, EA ise dört hafta boyunca gavaj yoluyla 2 mg/kg/gün dozunda uygulanmıştır. Beyin dokusunda tiyobarbitürik asit reaktif maddeleri (TBARS), indirgenmiş glutatyon (GSH), süperoksit dismutaz (SOD) ve katalaz (CAT) aktivitelerini kapsayan oksidatif stres parametreleri analiz edilmiştir. DBP uygulaması, lipid peroksidasyonunu ve antioksidan tükenmesini yansıtarak TBARS düzeylerini anlamlı şekilde artırmış, GSH ve SOD aktivitelerini azaltmıştır. Buna karşın, CAT aktivitesi artmış olup aşırı hidrojen peroksite karşı gelişen kompanse edici bir enzimatik yanıtı düşündürmektedir. EA tedavisi, GSH ve SOD düzeylerini geri kazandırarak ve CAT aktivitesini normale döndürerek oksidatif hasarı belirgin şekilde hafifletmiştir. Bu bulgular, DBP’nin lipid peroksidasyonu yoluyla redoks homeostazını bozduğunu, EA’nın ise antioksidan savunmayı yeniden düzenleyerek oksidatif nörotoksisiteye karşı koruma sağladığını göstermektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Ayhan, İ., Türkmen, N. B., Kasım, D. D., Çiftçi, O. (2026). Biochemical Antioxidant Effects of Ellagic Acid Against Di-(n)-butyl Phthalate–Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain Tissue. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Tıp Dergisi, Volume: 13 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.47572/muskutd.1804319

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (39)

  1. Heudorf U, Mersch-Sundermann V, Angerer J. Phthalates: toxicology and exposure. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2007;210(5):623-34.
  2. Zarean M, Keikha M, Poursafa P, et al. A systematic review on the adverse health effects of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016;23(24):24642-93.
  3. Wormuth M, Scheringer M, Vollenweider M, et al. What are the sources of exposure to eight frequently used phthalic acid esters in Europeans? Risk Anal. 2006;26(3):803-24.
  4. Frederiksen H, Skakkebaek NE, Andersson AM. Metabolism of phthalates in humans. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007;51(7):899-911.
  5. Kassab RB, Lokman MS, Essawy EA. Neurochemical alterations following the exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate in rats. Metab Brain Dis. 2019;34(1):235-44.
  6. Fujii M, Shinohara N, Lim A, et al. A study on emission of phthalate esters from plastic materials using a passive flux sampler. Atmos Environ. 2003;37(39-40):5495-504.
  7. Türkmen NB, Ayhan İ, Taşlıdere A, et al. Investigation of protective effect of ellagic acid in phthalates-induced reproductive damage. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2022;45(4):1652-9.
  8. Kim Y, Ha EH, Kim EJ, et al. Prenatal exposure to phthalates and infant development at 6 months: prospective Mothers and Children’s Environmental Health (MOCEH) study. Environ Health Perspect. 2011;119(10):1495-500.
  9. Miodovnik A, Engel SM, Zhu C, et al. Endocrine disruptors and childhood social impairment. Neurotoxicology. 2011;32(2):261-7.
  10. Alam MS, Maowa Z, Hasan MN. Phthalates toxicity in vivo to rats, mice, birds, and fish: a thematic scoping review. Heliyon. 2025;11(1).
  11. Lee W, Cho JH, Lee Y, et al. Dibutyl phthalate impairs neural progenitor cell proliferation and hippocampal neurogenesis. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019;129:239-48.
  12. Xu H, Shao X, Zhang Z, et al. Effects of di-n-butyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate on acetylcholinesterase activity and neurotoxicity related gene expression in embryonic zebrafish. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2013;91(6):635-9.
  13. Tseng IL, Yang YF, Yu CW, et al. Phthalates induce neurotoxicity affecting locomotor and thermotactic behaviors and AFD neurons through oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One. 2013;8(12).
  14. Wójtowicz AK, Szychowski KA, Wnuk A, et al. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)-induced apoptosis and neurotoxicity are mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) but not by estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in mouse cortical neurons. Neurotox Res. 2017;31(1):77-89.
  15. Yin N, Liang S, Liang S, et al. DEP and DBP induce cytotoxicity in mouse embryonic stem cells and abnormally enhance neural ectoderm development. Environ Pollut. 2018;236:21-32.
  16. Poljšak B, Fink R. The protective role of antioxidants in the defence against ROS/RNS-mediated environmental pollution. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2014;2014:671539.
  17. Yagi K. Simple assay for the level of total lipid peroxides in serum or plasma. Methods Mol Biol. 1998;108:101-6.
  18. Sedlak J, Lindsay RH. Estimation of total, protein-bound, and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups in tissue with Ellman’s reagent. Anal Biochem. 1968;25:192-205.
  19. Sun Y, Oberley LW, Li Y. A simple method for clinical assay of superoxide dismutase. Clin Chem. 1988;34(3):497-500.
  20. Aebi H. Catalase. In: Bergmeyer HU, editor. Methods of enzymatic analysis. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Academic Press; 1974. p. 673-84.
  21. Cozzi R, Ricordy R, Bartolini F, et al. Taurine and ellagic acid: two differently-acting natural antioxidants. Environ Mol Mutagen. 1995;26(3):248-54.
  22. Lipińska L, Klewicka E, Sójka M. The structure, occurrence and biological activity of ellagitannins: a general review. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment. 2014;13(3):289-99.
  23. Ríos JL, Giner RM, Marín M, et al. A pharmacological update of ellagic acid. Planta Med. 2018;84(15):1068-93.
  24. Alfei S, Marengo B, Zuccari G. Oxidative stress, antioxidant capabilities, and bioavailability: ellagic acid or urolithins? Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(8):707.
  25. de Oliveira MR. The effects of ellagic acid upon brain cells: a mechanistic view and future directions. Neurochem Res. 2016;41(6):1219-28.
  26. Farbood Y, Sarkaki A, Dolatshahi M, et al. Ellagic acid protects the brain against 6-hydroxydopamine induced neuroinflammation in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2015;6(2):83-9.
  27. Hassoun EA, Vodhanel J, Abushaban A. The modulatory effects of ellagic acid and vitamin E succinate on TCDD-induced oxidative stress in different brain regions of rats after subchronic exposure. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2004;18(4):196-203.
  28. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, et al. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951;193(1):265-75.
  29. Radha MJ, Basha MP. Genotoxic impact of di-n-butyl phthalate on DNA: a comparative study of three generations in the neuronal tissue of Wistar rats. Toxicol Ind Health. 2022;38(3):162-75.
  30. Zarei MH, Pourahmad J. Toxicity of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) toward isolated human blood lymphocytes: apoptosis initiated from intracellular calcium enhancement and mitochondrial/lysosomal cross talk. Toxicol Rep. 2024;13:101729.
  31. Yan B, Guo J, Liu X, et al. Oxidative stress mediates dibutyl phthalate-induced anxiety-like behavior in Kunming mice. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016;45:45-51.
  32. Yang X, Chu F, Jiao Z, et al. Ellagic acid ameliorates arsenic-induced neuronal ferroptosis and cognitive impairment via Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2024;283:116833.
  33. Aslan A, Gok O, Beyaz S, et al. The preventive effect of ellagic acid on brain damage in rats via regulating of Nrf-2, NF-kB and apoptotic pathway. J Food Biochem. 2020;44(6).
  34. Poopal RK, Ramesh M, Maruthappan V, et al. Potential effects of low molecular weight phthalate esters (C16H22O4 and C12H14O4) on the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio. Toxicol Res (Camb). 2017;6(4):505-20.
  35. Chaudhari M, Jayaraj R, Santhosh SR, et al. Oxidative damage and gene expression profile of antioxidant enzymes after T-2 toxin exposure in mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2009;23(3):212-21.
  36. Amara I, Timoumi R, Annabi E, et al. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate inhibits glutathione regeneration and dehydrogenases of the pentose phosphate pathway on human colon carcinoma cells. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2020;25(1):151-62.
  37. Gebicka L, Krych-Madej J. The role of catalases in the prevention/promotion of oxidative stress. J Inorg Biochem. 2019;197:110699.
  38. Venkatesan B, Mahimainathan L, Das F, et al. Downregulation of catalase by reactive oxygen species via PI 3 kinase/Akt signaling in mesangial cells. J Cell Physiol. 2007;211(2):457-67.
  39. Li Y, Zhang J, Zhang L, et al. Ellagic acid (EA) ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease by reducing Aβ levels, oxidative stress and attenuating inflammation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2025;986:177099.