Antioxidant potential in serum and liver of albino rats exposed to benzene.

Administration of benzene (ip, 0.5 ml/kg body wt or sc, 1 ml/kg body wt) consecutively for 10 days to male and female rats resulted in decrease in antioxidant potentials in serum. Serum uric acid and albumin showed significant decrease in all groups exposed to benzene. alpha-Tocopherol levels did not exhibit significant change in any of the groups when compared to control. Increase in liver lipid peroxidation and decrease in content of free sulphydryl group were observed in rats exposed to benzene. Serum ferroxidase activity, total iron content (TIC) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) in female rats exposed to benzene showed significant decrease in ferroxidase activity without any change in TIC or TIBC when compared to control. The decrease in antioxidant potentials observed may be due to oxidation reactions exhibited by benzene metabolites, particularly, hydroquinone and 1, 2, 4-benzenetriol, resulting in oxidative stress in treated rats.