Gibberellic acid (GA3) was used extensively unaware in agriculture in spite of its dangerous effects on human health. The current study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effects of the co-administration of
phycocyanin with GA3 induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes in the liver. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (control group) received
normal saline for 6 weeks, Group II (GA3 treated group) received 3.85 mg/kg
body weight GA3 once daily for 6 weeks, Group III (
phycocyanin treated group) received
Phycocyanin 200 mg/kg
body weight/day for 6 weeks orally dissolved in distilled water and Group IV was treated with GA3 and
phycocyanin at the same doses as groups 2 and 3. All treatments were given daily using intra-gastric intubation and continued for 6 weeks. Our results revealed significant downregulation of
antioxidant enzyme activities and their
mRNA levels (CAT, GPx and Cu-Zn, SOD) with marked elevation of liver
enzymes and extensive fibrous connective tissue deposition with large biliary cells in hepatic tissue of GA3 treated rats, while treatment with
phycocyanin improved the
antioxidant defense system, liver
enzymes and structural hepatocytes recovery in
phycocyanin treated group with GA3. These data confirm the
antioxidant potential of
Phycocyanin and provide strong evidence to support the co-administration of
Phycocyanin during using GA3.