ABSTRACT
The potential protective role of alpha-tocopherol and fish oil against oxidative damage induced by paraquat were investigated. Forty male albino rats with average body weight of 100-120 gm were housed in 8 groups of 5 rats each. The first group served as control and injected with saline, group 2 was injected with a single dose of paraquat [10 mg/kg, intraperittoneally] for 24 h prior to decapitation [P], group 3 was administered orally with vitamin E [100 mg/kg] five times a week [E]. group 4 was administered orally with fish oil [20 mg/kg] five times a week [FO]; group 5 received FO+E, groups 6, 7 and 8 were administrated with P+E, P+FO and P+E+FO respectively. The content of microsomal proteins, drug metabolizing enzymes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TEARS] were determined in liver microsome after treatment. Vitamin E together with fish oil significantly decreased the content of cytochrome b[5] [p<0.01], c ytochrome P-450 [p<0.001]. glutathione-S-transeferase [p<0.001] and cytochrome C-reductase [p<0.001] when given before paraquat injection. Meanwhile, this combination of vitamin E and fish oil significantly [p<0.05] increased amidopyrine N-demethylase. On the other hand vitamin E and fish oil alleviated the paraquat induced increase in TBARS. In conclusion, oral administration of vitamin E and fish oil are effective in reducing the activity of selected drug metabolizing enzymes and are also effective in reducing lipid peroxidation process caused by paraquat. So, these combinations provide a potent protection against paraquat-induced oxidative toxicity in rats' liver