Effects of carnosine on liver enzymes of bilharzias infested hamsters

ABSTRACT

We tested the ability of prophylactic camosine alone and in conjunction with praziquantel to overcome the disturbances of liver enzyme activities and total protein content caused by Schistosoma mansoni infestation in hamsters. The present work showed that the infection increased hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase total activities and decreased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, arginase, transaminases [OAT, AST and ALT] and liver total protein content. Prophylactic carnosine stimulated hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase and both deaminases. Carnosine inhibited the activity of arginase and the three transaminases, yet this inhibition was less than that caused by untreated infection. Praziquatel therapy after prophylactic carnosine treatment caused suppression of the stimulatory effects of carnosine alone on hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase, both deaminases and liver total protein content. With regard to arginase and the transaminases, this combined therapy decreased the inhibitory effects of infection more than camosine alone