Effect of coenzyme Q - 10 and alpha - tocopherol on the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride

This work aimed to compare the in vivo protective effect of coenzyme Q- 10 and vitamin E against the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Pretreatment was carried out for 14 days with either coenzyme Q-10 or vitamin E before CC14 was administrated. Serum AST, ALT and ALP were measured as well as liver LDH, cytochrome oxidase, MDA, GSH and GSH-Px. It was shown that CC14 administration induced many toxic effects on liver functions which was apparent from the increased serum AST, ALT and ALP activities; the severe increase in LDH activity and MDA level; the reduction of cytochrome oxidase and GSHPx activities and the depletion of GSH in liver tissue of CCl4-administered rats. Pretreatment with coenzyme Q-10 or vitamin E succeeded to protect the liver from the hepatotoxic effect of CC14. This was evident from the normalized serum ALT and ALP activities; the decrease in MDA content; LDH and cytochrome oxidase activities and the increased value of GSH and GSH-Px activity in liver tissue of rats pretreated with either coenzyme Q-10 or vitamin-E. This study proved that coenzyme Q-10 showed similar protective effect to vitamin E as a potent antioxidant and could be suggested as a hepatoprotective agent

Amelioration of brain ischemia / reperfusion injury by diazepam in rats

There is an evidence that the loss of gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] inhibition, followed by excitotoxic glutamate release is linked to ischemia/reperfusion injury of brain cells. Therefore, a GABA mimetic drug, such as diazepam, might attenuate this injury. Ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery clamping for 60 minutes, followed by 40 minutes reperfusion. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that diazepam might protect the brain cells against stroke as that occurs after ischemia, followed by reperfusion of rat brain