ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the bile salt taurine and its interaction with silymarin or melatonin on the acute hepatic injury caused in the rat by the administration of acetaminophen in vim. Taurine [50. 100 or 200 mg/kg] or taurine [100 mg/kg] combined with either siLymarin [22 mg/kg] or melatonin [3 mg/kg] was given orally twice daily for 7 days, starting on time of acetaminophen administration. Liver damage was assessed by determining serum enzyme activities and hepatic histopathology. Taurine exerted dose-dependent protective effect reducing serum levels of hepatocellular enzymes. When administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg, taurine significantly reduced plasma ALT value by 35.3%. At doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the drug caused significant reduction in plasma ALT [by 43.6 and 51.8%], AST [by 16 and 32.4%] and ALP [by 22.6 and 26.2%]. Silymarin [22 mg/kg] co-administrated with taurine [100 mg/kg] resulted in further decrease in plasma AST, whereas the combination of taurine 100 mg/kg and melatonin [3 mg/kg] exhibited significantly lower plasma ALT and AST levels compared with those given 100 mg/kg taurine alone. Examination of liver specimens revealed a marked reduction in liver cell necrosis in taurine-pretreated rats compared with the control acetaminophen-treated rats. The addition of either melatonin or silymarin resulted in further histological improvement. The present study thus indicates that in the model of acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity. taurine was useful in decreasing hepatic damage and the combination of taurine and melatonin or taurine and silymarin proved more effective
ABSTRACT
Plant products, having traditional medicinal values have always been an interesting to the phytochemists and pharmacologist. The LD50, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, ulcerogenie activities and the effect on liver and kidney functions of the alcoholic extracts of Salsola volkensii [S.I.]125 mg/ 100g and Salsola villosa [S.II]154mg/ 100g were carried out in normal and carbon tetrachloride [CCI4] treated rats. Results obtained revealed that both tested extracts were non toxic when orally administred to mice. Oral pre-treatment with 125,154 mg/ 100 g of S.I. and S.II. Alcoholic extract for 8 days and 2 days post-CCI4 treatment significantly attenuated the elevation of serum GOT, GPT, GGT, total bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin, urea, and creatinine. In normal rats treated with S.I. and S. II. Alcoholic extracts exhibited a significant increase in total protein and decreased significantly total bilirubin, S. II. Extract decreased the indirect bilirubin. Both extracts inhibited paw edema induced by carrageenan by 52% and cotton pellets granuloma by 42%, 46.5% respectively, in addition to that they both posses an analgesic "in tail-electric stimulation assay" as well as ulcerogenic effect
ABSTRACT
The effects of pentoxifylline [PTX], a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor were examined in rat models of gastric mucosal injury. Gastric mucosal damage was evoked in pylorus-ligated rats by subcutaneous [s.c.] administration of 20 mg/kg indomethacin together with oral administration of 2m 0.15 N HCI, by oral administration of acidified acetylsalicylic acid [200 mg/kg in 2 ml 0.15 N HCI] or by oral administration of l ml of 50% ethanol. The results showed that PTX [36 or 72 mg/kg, i. p.] given prior to indomethacin, acidified acetylsalicylic acid or 50% ethanol prevented the development of gastric mucosal damage by the ulcerogenic agents in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PTX [36 or 72 mg/kg, i. p.] given to pylorus-ligated rats decreased gastric acid secretion. It is concluded that, PTX, when given at doses comparable to those used in man for treatment of circulatory disorders displayed anti-ulcerogenic activity in the rat in vivo