PROTECTING THE LIVER: TAMARIX DIOICA MITIGATES ARSENIC-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS
Abstract
Background: The rise of arsenic contamination in both water and food supplies has emerged as a notable worldwide health issue, posing serious risks to human well-being, notably through liver damage. Objective was to observe he protective effects of Tamarix dioica in arsenic-induced liver toxicity in albino rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Department of Anatomy, LUMHS Jamshoro from August 2022 to February 2023. The study utilized 30 adult male Albino rats as utilized in similar published studies, equally divided in three groups. Group A (control), Group B (rats administered arsenic orally), and Group C (rats administered arsenic orally along with Tamarix dioica. After the experimental period, the animals were weighed and liver function tests, i.e., ALT, AST, and total bilirubin, reduced liver weight &length, and by manifestation of steatosis to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of arsenic and its potential prevention by Tamarix dioica. Results: The findings demonstrated that arsenic exposure significantly impacted both liver function and morphology. However, concurrent administration of Tamarix dioica with arsenic appeared to alleviate these effects. The treated group exhibited lower liver function markers, higher liver weight, and less severe steatosis and hepatic ballooning; the reduction in lobular inflammation did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest a potential protective role of Tamarix dioica against arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Tamarix dioica reduced the biochemical and histological markers of arsenic-induced liver injury in albino rats.
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