Ameliorative effects of eugenol and naringenin on perfluorooctanoic acid-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an environmental pollutant with wide industrial usage, is known to induce hepatotoxicity through oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid dysregulation. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of eugenol and naringenin against PFOA–induced liver damage in Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced via the oral administration of PFOA (40 mg/kg) for 21 days. Simultaneously, the rats were treated with eugenol (5 and 10 mg/kg) and naringenin (10 and 50 mg/kg). Serum biochemical parameters like alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol and triglycerides, liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and histopathological changes were assessed. In silico molecular docking was performed to explore the interactions of the test compounds with adiponectin. PFOA significantly elevated serum transaminases, lipid parameters and hepatic TBARS levels and induced histological changes such as steatosis, necrosis and inflammation. Treatment with eugenol and naringenin significantly (P < 0.05) mitigated these alterations, particularly at higher doses. Molecular docking revealed favourable binding affinities of both compounds with adiponectin, suggesting a mechanistic role in their hepatoprotective effects. Eugenol and naringenin exerted protective effects against PFOA-induced hepatotoxicity through antioxidant, anti–inflammatory and lipid–modulating actions, possibly via adiponectin signalling pathways. These findings highlight their therapeutic potential in managing environmentally induced liver damage.