Protective effects of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed oil on rat liver damage induced by chronic alcohol consumption

Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) possesses a protective potential against liver injury due to the presence of biologically active ingredients. Adult male albino rats were administrated PSO (per os, 2 mL/kg b.w./day) and a 12% ethanol solution in water, ad libitum, with an average intake of 8.14 g of ethanol/kg bw/day for 6 weeks. Congestion, hepatic central vein dilation, portal vein branch dilation, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, fatty liver changes, hepatocyte focal necrosis were observed after daily alcohol intake. All observed changes were reduced when PSO was ingested with ethanol. PSO intake itself induced discrete cellular edema, congestion and slight dilatation of the central and portal vain branches. Chronic ethanol intake elevated catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione reductase (GR) protein expression; concomitant PSO intake had no effect on CAT activity or GR protein expression. PSO intake decreased the activities of GR, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the liver, probably due to the ingestion of antioxidants. Intake of PSO and ethanol significantly decreased cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and increased NF-kappa B protein expression compared to ethanol intake, suggesting that the protective effects of PSO were mediated by the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Our results reveal a therapeutic potential of PSO in alcoholic liver disease.