Therapeutic Oral Sesame Oil Is Ineffectual Against Monocrotaline-Induced Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome in Rats

Background: The chemotherapeutic drug oxaliplatin causes sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), which is analogous to that of monocrotaline-induced SOS. Sesame oil is a nutrient-rich antioxidant in alternative medicine. It contains phenol, sesamin, sesamol, and sesamolin, all of which contribute to its antioxidant property. The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of oral sesame oil against monocrotaline-induced SOS in rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with monocrotaline (90 mg/kg) to induce SOS. Control rats were treated with saline only at 0 and 24 hours. Sesame oil (0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mL/kg, orally) was given 24 hours after monocrotaline in rats. Blood samples were collected at 24 and 48 hours after monocrotaline was given to assess the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Histopathology was also assessed 48 hours after monocrotaline was given. Results: AST and ALT were significantly higher in monocrotaline-treated rats than in control rats. Oral sesame oil did not decrease AST and ALT in monocrotaline-treated rats. In addition, liver pathology revealed that oral sesame oil had no therapeutic effect against SOS. Conclusion: Oral sesame oil is therapeutically ineffectual against monocrotaline-induced SOS. (JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2013;37:129-133)