Hindawi Publishing Corporation Journal of Biomarkers Volume 2013, Article ID 960125, 12 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/960125 Research Article Effect of Quercetin on Haematobiochemical and Histological Changes in the Liver of Polychlorined Biphenyls-Induced Adult Male Wistar Rats Kandaswamy Selvakumar, 1 Senthamilselvan Bavithra, 1 Sekaran Suganya, 1 Firdous Ahmad Bhat, 1 Gunasekaran Krishnamoorthy, 2 and Jagadeesan Arunakaran 1 1 Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai 600113, India 2 Department of Biochemistry, Asan Memorial Dental College & Hospital, Asan Nagar, Chengalpattu 603105, India Correspondence should be addressed to Jagadeesan Arunakaran; j_arunakaran@hotmail.com Received 14 June 2012; Accepted 11 August 2012 Academic Editor: A. S. Jaffe Copyright © 2013 Kandaswamy Selvakumar et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Polychlorinated biphenyls exposure damages the rat liver cells. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red-blood cells, white-blood cells, neutrophils, platelet counts, and RBC indices were signi�cantly decreased. Polymorphs, eosinophil counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were signi�cantly increased. Serum liver enzymes such as aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were increased by PCBs treatment. Serum lipid pro�les such as cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and very-low-density lipoproteins were increased in PCBs-treated rats. High-density lipoprotein, total protein, albumin, globulin levels, and albumin/globulin ratio were also decreased aer PCB exposure. en levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were also altered. Serum glucose levels were increased along with total bilirubin aer PCBs exposure. Simultaneous quercetin supplementation signi�cantly protected the PCBs- induced changes of hematobiochemical parameters. us, quercetin shows a protective role against PCBs-induced alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters. 1. Introduction Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals used in plasticizers, surface coatings, inks, adhesives, �ame retardants, pesticide extenders, paints, and microencapsula- tion of dyes for carbonless duplicating paper. Because PCBs resist both acids and alkalis and are relatively heat-stable, they have been used in dielectric �uids in transformers and capacitors. Further environmental contamination may occur from the disposal of old electrical equipment containing PCBs.eir characteristic low solubility, contribute to its abil- ity to bioconcentrate which leads to bioaccumulation. PCBs have been regulated as food contaminants and in foodstuffs. ey are generally higher chlorinated with high resistance to metabolic breakdown [1]. e production of PCBs peaked in the 1970s and has steadily declined thereaer as many countries throughout the world have banned their use or limited their production. Nevertheless these compounds remain in use today in our environment and represent a potential human health hazard [2]. PCBs are environmental toxicants associated with numerous adverse health effects, through widespread bioaccumulation in the biosphere and bioconcentration in the food chain [3]. PCB-induced toxic manifestations are associated with the production of free radicals [4]. Oxidative impairment occurs when generation of ROS overrides the ability of the antioxidant system to neutralize ROS subsequently leading to both an increase in oxidative processes and a decrease in antioxidant defenses. e �avonoids are a large group of naturally occur- ring compounds that are found in plants and are fre- quently consumed as part of the human diet. Flavonoids are receiving much attention now a days for their potential