Effect of the hypolipidemic agent gemfibrozil and its combination with two anti-hepato toxic agents silymarin and alpha-tocopherol on rat liver lysosomal enzymes in vitro

Gemfibrozil, is a potent hypolipidemic agent used for the treatment of elevated levels of plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL]. In this study, the effect of three sole graded concentrations of gemfibrozil on four rat liver lysosomal acid hydrolases [Acid phosphatase, beta-Galactosidase, b.N. Acetyl glucosaminidase and beta-Glucuronidase] were studied for three incubation periods [30, 60 and 120 minutes] in vitro. The effect of the same concentration levels of gemfibrozil, each combined with a single therapeutic dose of two anti-hepatotoxic agents: silymarin and alpha-tocopherol on the same lysosomal enzymes for the same incubation periods were also investigated. The results of this study showed that gemfibrozil displayed a highly significant releasing effect on the four lysosomal enzymes regardless of the dose or the incubation time, and that such effect presists even in the presence of the two membrane protecting agents: silymarin and alpha tocopherol