MARIA MOHORA*, LIANA BOGHIANU**, CORINA MUSCUREL*, CARMEN DUTA*, CEZAR DUMITRACHE*

*Biochemical Department, University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, 8, Eroilor Sanitari St., 76243, Bucharest, Romania
** Institute of Public Health, 1–5, Dr. Leonte St., Bucharest, Romania

Abstract. Boron occurs most frequently in nature as borates and boric acid (H3BO3) never as the free element. These compounds are toxic to all species tested at high doses, but they are not carcinogenic or mutagenic. The present work studies the in vivo influence of boric acid on the level of lipid peroxides, non-protein thiol groups and superoxide-dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in liver tissue of rats. During an experimental period of 90 days young male Wistar rats with the same ages received a standard diet containing vitamin mix (A, E, D) and eithcr 40 ppm boric acid (group 1) or 80 ppm boric acid (group 2). These two groups were compared to a control group treated with a standard diet containing vitamin mix. Results indicated a significant increase in lipid peroxides (p < 0.05) for the (group I) and a significant decrease (p < 0.003) for the (group 2) compared to control. Oxidative effects on G-SH metabolism were less pronounced in the (group 2) than in the (group 1). The activity of liver superoxide dismutase was unsignificantly increased. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as well as glutathione-peroxidase activities were significantly increased for both groups of rats compared to control one.

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