Effect of combined quercetin and resveratrol administration on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers in the liver of rats under conditions of surgical trauma following prolonged stress

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14739/mmt.2026.2.352229

Keywords:

quercetin, resveratrol, oxidative and nitrosative stress, surgical trauma, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide synthase

Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined quercetin and resveratrol administration on markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in the liver of rats subjected to surgical trauma following prolonged stress exposure.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 35 adult male Wistar rats, which were randomly assigned to five experimental groups: intact animals (control, Group 1); rats subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) followed by laparotomy (Group 2); animals exposed to SPS and laparotomy and treated with a water-soluble form of quercetin (20 mg/kg body weight, Group 3), resveratrol (5 mg/kg body weight, Group 4), and a combination of quercetin and resveratrol (Group 5). Hepatic oxidative-nitrosative stress was assessed by measuring superoxide anion radical (O2•–) production, total nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, the activities of constitutive and inducible NOS isoforms (cNOS and iNOS), and the concentration of peroxynitrites of alkali and alkaline-earth metals.

Results. Combined exposure to SPS and surgical trauma induced a marked oxidative-nitrosative imbalance in the liver, manifested by excessive superoxide and peroxynitrite production, mitochondrial redox dysfunction, iNOS overactivation, and profound cNOS uncoupling. Monotherapy with either water-soluble quercetin or resveratrol partially alleviated these stress-induced alterations by reducing O2•– generation, suppressing iNOS activity, and improving cNOS coupling, confirming their hepatoprotective effects under conditions of combined psycho-emotional and surgical stress. In contrast, combined quercetin-resveratrol administration provided substantially greater protection, resulting in near-complete normalization of mitochondrial O2•– production, full restoration of cNOS activity and coupling, and a marked reduction in hepatic peroxynitrite accumulation.

Conclusions. These findings indicate a synergistic interaction between the two polyphenols, quercetin and resveratrol in restoring hepatic redox and nitric oxide homeostasis.

Author Biographies

R. M. Riabushko, Poltava State Medical University

MD, PhD, Doctoral (DSc) Student of the Department of Pathophysiology

H. V. Kostenko, Poltava State Medical University

PhD student of the Department of Pathophysiology

O. Ye. Akimov, Poltava State Medical University

MD, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Pathophysiology

V. O. Kostenko, Poltava State Medical University

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Head of the Department of Pathophysiology

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Published

2026-06-09

How to Cite

Riabushko, R. M., Kostenko, H. V., Akimov, O. Y., & Kostenko, V. O. (2026). Effect of combined quercetin and resveratrol administration on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers in the liver of rats under conditions of surgical trauma following prolonged stress. Modern Medical Technology, 18(2), 122–128. https://doi.org/10.14739/mmt.2026.2.352229

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Original research

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Copyright (c) 2026 R. M. Riabushko, H. V. Kostenko, O. Ye. Akimov, V. O. Kostenko

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