Comparative Effects of α-Tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid Pre-Treatment on Paracetamol-Induced Liver Damage in Wistar Albino Rats

Author(s): Saidul Islam Khan, Mahmuda Begum, Rama Chowdhury, Tahmina Yeasmin, Mizanur Rahman, Hasina Akter

Background: Paracetamol administration at toxic doses can lead to liver damage, characterized by elevated liver function markers and centrilobular hepatic necrosis. α-Tocopherol and ascorbic acid are known antioxidants that may have hepatoprotective effects against paracetamol-induced liver damage. However, there is limited comparative research on the effects of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid pretreatment in Wistar albino rats.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the hepatoprotective effects of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid pretreatment in Wistar albino rats with paracetamol-induced liver damage.

Methods: An animal model experimental study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Forty apparently healthy male Wistar albino rats aged 90-120 days and weighing 160-200g were divided into four groups: Group I (baseline control, n=10), Group II (paracetamol-treated control, n=10), Group III (α-tocopherol pretreated & paracetamol treated, n=10), and Group IV (ascorbic acid pretreated & paracetamol treated, n=10). α-Tocopherol at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight and ascorbic acid at 200 mg/kg body weight were administered orally as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Data were analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS version 22.0.

Results: Mean serum levels of total bilirubin, ALT, and AST were significantly elevated in Groups II, III, and IV compared to Group I. Moreover, the mean MDA concentration in liver tissue significantly increased in Groups II and IV compared to Group I, while Group III showed an increase that was not statistically significant. Notably, the mean serum levels of total bilirubin, ALT, AST, and MDA concentration in liver tissue significantly decreased in Groups III and IV compared to Group II, with the exception of serum AST levels in Group IV, which showed a non-significant decrease. Histological analysis revealed 100% normal liver findings in Group I, 100% abnormal findings in Group II, 30% abnormal findings in Group III, and 50% abnormal findings in Group IV.

Conclusion: Although α-tocopherol pretreatment in paracetamol-treated Wistar albino rats resulted in significantly lower levels of total bilirubin, ALT, AST, and MDA concentration in liver tissue compared to ascorbic acid pretreatment, a relatively lower proportion of abnormal histological findings was observed in the α-tocopherol pretreated group.