Protective Effects of Antioxidant Extracts on Liver Damage and Electrical Properties in Mice Injected with Benzo[a]pyrene

Abstract

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a highly toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that induces oxidative stress and structural damage in hepatic tissue. Antioxidant-rich plant extracts have been proposed as potential protective agents against BaP-induced liver injury. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of soursop leaf, garlic, and moringa leaf extracts against BaP-induced liver damage using complementary histopathological and electrical property analyses. Eighty-five male mice were randomly assigned to 17 treatment groups consisting of one untreated control group, one benzo[a]pyrene-only (BaP) group, and fifteen antioxidant treatment groups receiving BaP exposure followed by soursop leaf extract, garlic extract, or moringa leaf extract at five different dose levels. Liver tissue damage was assessed through microscopic histopathological examination, while electrical properties as impedance, resistivity, and dielectric constant were measured to evaluate cellular membrane integrity and tissue bioelectrical function. The results demonstrated that BaP exposure induced marked liver tissue damage and disrupted hepatic electrical properties. Antioxidant treatment groups showed significant structural and bioelectrical recovery compared to the BaP-only group. Among the tested treatments, antioxidant administration at intermediate doses produced the most consistent protective effects. Overall, antioxidant supplementation attenuated oxidative damage, improved hepatic tissue integrity, and restored electrical homeostasis in BaP-exposed mice. These findings indicate that soursop leaf, garlic, and moringa leaf extracts possess hepatoprotective potential against benzo[a]pyrene-induced toxicity and support the use of combined histopathological and electrical property analyses as sensitive indicators for evaluating liver tissue recovery.