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Biochanin A (BCA) is a natural organic compound of the phytoestrogenic isoflavone class that has antioxidant and metal chelator properties in the presence of transition metal ions, however, its efficacy in animal models is still obscure. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of BCA against arsenic-induced hepatic injury and hematotoxicity in rats. The results suggest that arsenic intoxicated rats showed significantly higher levels of plasma hepatic markers than normal control rats. Furthermore, an increase in lipid peroxidation with depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) occurred in the livers of rats exposed to arsenic. Administration of BCA (20 mg/kg⋅bw/day) and selenium (3 mg/kg⋅bw/day) resulted in a significant reversal of hepatic and oxidative stress markers in arsenic-intoxicated rats. A low dose of BCA (10 mg/kg⋅bw/day) did not show any preventive effect, while a high dose of BCA (40 mg/kg⋅bw/day) partially prevented all hepatotoxicity events. These biochemical perturbations were supported by histopathological observations of the liver. Our results suggest that administration of BCA (20 mg/kg⋅bw/day) attenuated the arsenic hepatotoxicity, a property that could contribute to the therapeutic approaches for chronic liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was investigated the effects of biochanin A (BCA) on arsenic toxicity in rats. For this purpose, rats were orally treated with arsenic in the form of sodium meta-arsenite alone (10 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day) and co-administered selenium (10 mg/kgbw/day) and BCA at different doses (10, 20 and 40 mg/kgbw/day) for 6 weeks. Arsenic altered the oxidative stress indices in both renal and cardiac tissues. There was an increase in plasma renal markers, triglyceride, lipoproteins with no alterations in cholesterol levels were noted in arsenic-intoxicated rats. Non-significant changes of phospholipids and free fatty acids levels in the tissues of arsenic-exposed rats. The biochemical disturbances were well correlated with the histological findings in the kidney, but not in the heart. The administration of BCA and selenium significantly reversed the alterations in the above-mentioned parameters in arsenic-intoxicated rats. Our findings revealed the beneficial effects of BCA against arsenic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]