Quercetin Administration Mitigated Oxidative Stress And The Alterations In Thioredoxin-1 Levels Caused By High Sucrose Intake In Rat Thoracic Aortas.

Oxidative stress is considered a contributing factor to the rapid advancement of complications associated with metabolic syndrome. Additionally, thioredoxins are essential components required for the redox regulation of protein thiol groups. The objective of this study was to examine the roles of quercetin and thioredoxin-1 in the mechanisms that may mediate their therapeutic potential. Male Wistar rats were administered 32% sucrose in their drinking water over a 20-week period to induce metabolic syndrome. Following this induction, quercetin was given orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day. At the conclusion of the study, blood samples from each group were evaluated for lipid profiles and thioredoxin-1 protein levels. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities, total oxidant and antioxidant status, nitric oxide metabolite concentrations, protein thiol levels, and thioredoxin-1 protein levels were assessed in aortic tissues. Rats exposed to high sucrose intake exhibited elevated serum lipid concentrations, malondialdehyde levels, total oxidant status, and thioredoxin-1 protein levels in the serum. These increases were significantly mitigated by quercetin treatment. Furthermore, sucrose consumption resulted in a notable reduction in antioxidant markers, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, total antioxidant status, and thioredoxin-1, within aortic tissue homogenates. Supplementation with quercetin effectively reversed these declines, restoring antioxidant parameters. Overall, the findings indicate that quercetin plays a protective role under oxidative stress by strengthening the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly through its regulatory effect on thioredoxin-1, a key antioxidant protein involved in maintaining cellular redox balance.