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

ABSTRACT

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