The protective effect of arbutin against potassium bromate-induced oxidative damage in the rat brain.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of arbutin (ARB) against brain injury induced in rats with potassium bromate (KBrO 3 ). The rats were divided into four groups as Group 1: Control (0.9% NaCl ml/kg/day p.), Group 2: KBrO 3 (100 mg/kg (gavage), Group 3: ARB (50 mg/kg/day p.), and Group 4: KBrO 3  + ARB (100 mg/kg (gavage) + 50 mg/kg/day p.). At the end of the fifth day of the study, the rats in all groups were killed, and their brain tissues were collected. In the collected brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured, and routine histopathological examinations were made. The MDA levels in the group that was exposed to KBrO 3 were significantly higher than those in the control group (p ˂ 0.001). In comparison to the KBrO 3 group, the MDA levels in the KBrO 3  + ARB group were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001). It was observed that SOD and CAT enzyme activity levels were significantly lower in the KBrO 3 group compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001), while these levels were significantly higher in the KBrO 3  + ARB group than in the KBrO 3 group (p ˂ 0.001). Additionally, the group that was subjected to KBrO 3 toxicity, as well as ARB administration, had much lower levels of histopathologic signs than the group that was subjected to KBrO 3 toxicity only. Consequently, it was found that KBrO 3 exposure led to injury in the brain tissues of the rats, and using ARB was effective in preventing this injury.