Comparative study on the protective effect of cimetidine and / or n-acetylcysteine on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of cimetidine on paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity, and to detect any additive protective action when cimetidine and N-acetylcysteine are used together. The study was conducted on 10 groups of albino rats. The animals received paracetamol in a dose of 500 mg/kg b. wt., cimetidine in a dose of 150 mg/kg b. wt., and/or N-acetylcysteine in a dose of 1 g/kg b. wt. Changes in the activities of aspartate and alanine transaminases were measured and pathological changes in hepatic sections were recoreded. The study showed that, cimetidine has a protective action against paracetamol hepatotoxicity was effective as the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine. No potentiating effects were recorded when cimetidine and N- acetylcysteine are used together