Protective effect of α-lipoic acid against chloroquine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

✍ Scribed by L. Pari; P. Murugavel

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 85 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0260-437X
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.940

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Oral administration of a‐lipoic acid, a metavitamin, was investigated for its possible hepatoprotective effect in Wistar rats against chloroquine‐induced toxicity. Rats were treated orally with α‐lipoic acid (10, 30 and 100 mg kg^−1^ day^−1^) for 7 days before a single oral administration of chloroquine (970 mg kg^−1^ day^−1^) and α‐lipoic acid treatment was continued for three more days. The increased level of serum enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, lipids and plasma thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides observed in rats treated with chloroquine were very much reduced in rats treated with α‐lipoic acid plus chloroquine. A significant decrease in plasma antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and vitamin E were observed in chloroquine‐treated rats when compared with control rats. Administration of α‐lipoic acid significantly improved the levels of plasma antioxidants GSH, vitamin C and vitamin E in chloroquine‐treated rats. In the case of 100 mg kg^−1^ day^−1^ the effect was highly significant compared with the other doses (10 and 30 mg kg^−1^ day^−1^). The results of the study revealed that α‐lipoic acid could offer protection against chloroquine‐induced hepatotoxicity. α‐Lipoic acid had a better protective effect when compared with silymarin, a reference drug. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.