Organ-specific effects of dihydroquercetin on pro- and antioxidant balance in the dynamics of experimental dust exposure

Introduction. One of the mechanisms of the pathological reaction to prolonged exposure to coal dust is a violation of the balance of pro- and antioxidants in body tissues in the direction of increasing the intensity of oxidative reactions. Perspective way to normalize this balance may be the use of flavonoids, substances of plant origin that have the ability to increase the level of antioxidant protection systems of cells. A widespread flavonoid is dihydroquercetin, for which antihypoxic, antioxidant and organoprotective effects have been shown in various experimental models in this work.

The study aims to explore the organ-specific effects of dihydroquercetin on the pro- and antioxidant balance in the dynamics of experimental dust exposure.

Materials and methods. Scientists have conducted a study on 90 male Wistar rats exposed to coal dust for 9 weeks with simultaneous administration of the drug dihydroquercetin, followed by studies of the initial level and rate of accumulation of free radical oxidation products, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the lungs, heart and liver.

Results. The organ-specific features of the effect of dihydroquercetin on the pro- and antioxidant balance in the early and late stages of coal-dust exposure are shown. The protective effect of dihydroquercetin can be explained by its ability to induce intracellular antioxidant systems (lungs and liver) in the early stages (1–3 weeks) of dust exposure, and to exhibit superoxide-binding and catalase-like effects (heart) in the late stages (6–9 weeks). With prolonged use of dihydroquercetin for the prevention of damage caused by coal dust, special attention should be paid to liver tissue, which is highly sensitive to excessive activation of free radical processes.

Limitations. It is possible that the use of other antioxidant drugs in the dynamics of experimental dust exposure will lead to different results.

Conclusion. With prolonged use of drugs with antioxidant properties, it is necessary to study the initial level and rate of accumulation of free radical oxidation products, the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes.

Ethics. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Minutes of meeting No. 4 §2 dated 11/18/2021). The animals were kept, fed and removed from the experiment in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates Used for Experimental or Other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123, Strasbourg, 18.03.1986).

Contributions:
Zhukova A.G. — research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Gorokhova L.G. — material collection and data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Gostyaeva E.P. — collection of material and data processing, statistical processing;
Mikhailova N.N. — editing;
Sazontova T.G. — editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 30.09.2025 / Accepted: 02.10.2025 / Published: 21.11.2025

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