Protective effect of vitamin C and beta-carotene against nickel-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nickel sulphate [25 mg/kg diet] and to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C and beta-carotene [200mg/kg diet] on the liver of male albino rats. Serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities, lipids peroxidation as malondialdehyde [MDA] and hemoglobin concentration [Hb] were determined. The results showed that nickel sulphate administration for eight weeks induced highly significant [P<0.01] increase of ALT, AST activities and MDA level, highly significant decrease in the activity of SOD and significant [P<0.05] decrease in Hb concentration in rats. The supplementation of vitamin C simultaneously with nickel sulphate showed insignificant reduction in ALT and AST activities, highly significant increase in SOD activity and significant decrease in MDA level, while supplementation of [Beta-carotene with nickel sulphate induced a significant reduction in ALT, AST activities and MDA level with highly significant increase in SOD activity as compared with nickel sulphate treated rats. Supplementation of vitamin C or beta-carotene induced an insignificant increase in Hb concentration in rats comparing with nickel sulphate treated group