ABSTRACT
To study the protective effect of silibinin against arsenic induced alterations in the serum and hepatic lipid profiles in rats. In this context, the chronic oral exposure of sodium arsenite as the source of arsenic (As) at 5mg/kg/bw with silibinin (SB) 75mg/kg/bw for 28 days. In the present experiment, the elevated levels of serum hepatic markers such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT),alkaline phosphatise(ALP) and serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), tissue triglycerides and cholesterol with concomitant decrease in serum HDL and tissue phospholipids were observed in As intoxicated rats. Pre-administration of SB with As was found to protect against adverse changes in the serum and hepatic tissue lipid profile in rats. Our results suggest that SB exerts a hypolipidemic effect against arsenic induced toxicity in liver by restoring the altered levels of lipids. The protective effects of SB on serum and liver as evidenced by the clear restoration of lipid profile in rats.