EFFECT OF SILYMARIN ON SERUM LEVELS OF ALT AND GGT IN ETHANOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS
Abstract
Background: Alcoholic liver disease is a worldwide health problem. At least 80% of heavydrinkers have been reported to develop steatosis, 10–35% alcoholic hepatitis, and approximately10% liver cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of silymarin on thelevels of serum ALT and GGT in ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. This study was anexperimental Randomised Control Trial (RCT), and was conducted at the experimental researchlaboratory of University of Health Sciences, Lahore, from January 2007 to December 2007.Methods: Eighteen male albino rats of 6–8 weeks age, weighing 150–200 gm each were dividedinto 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group A served as control, Group B was given ethanol at a dose of 0.6ml (0.5 gm)/100 gm/day and group C was given ethanol and silymarin at a dose of 0.5 gm/100gm/day, and 20 mg/100 gm/day respectively for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, eachanimal was euthenised with chloroform. Blood was drawn from each animal by cardiac puncturefor liver function tests (ALT and GGT). After taking blood sample, each euthenised animal wassacrificed and then its liver was removed for gross and histological examination. Results: Themean values of serum alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) in groups A, B and C were 28.16±7.13,82.33±10.89 and 49.66±6.12 U/L respectively, whereas, the mean values of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in groups A, B and C were 27.33±3.05, 79.33±4.37 and 45.66±1.85 U/Lrespectively. ANOVA showed significant (p<0.05) difference in mean value of these serumenzymes among groups. Post Hoc test, using the Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD)showed that there was significant (p<0.05) increase in mean value of ALT and GGT in group B ascompared to group A and C. This test also showed that there was significant (p<0.05) decrease inmean value of these enzymes in-group C as compared to group B. Conclusion: Silymarin tends tonormalise liver function test in alcoholic liver disease.Keywords: Ethanol, Silymarin, Alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)References
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