Effect of lycopene supplementation on lipid profile, blood glucose and electrolyte homeostasis in thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis.

Lycopene is a fat-soluble carotenoid pigment that gives tomatoes their red color and capacity for scavenging free radicals. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of lycopenesupplementation on blood glucose, lipid profile and electrolyte homeostasis in thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis. Experimental period was consisted of 12 weeks, divided into two phases (each of six weeks). For this purpose 24 male albino wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n=6). Group I served as control, Group II received thioacetamide (200mg/kg b.w, i.p, twice a week) in the first phase and then saline in the second phase. Group III received thioacetamidein the first phase and lycopene in the second phase. Group IV received saline in the first phase and lycopene in the second phase. Thioacetamide toxicity was evidenced by decrease in body weight, plasma glucose and HDL level, plasma and intra-erythrocyte sodium and potassium and increase in liver weight, plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL level. While lycopene administration resulted in increased body weight, HDL level, plasma and intra-erythrocyte sodium and potassium and decreased liver weight, plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and plasma glucose level. Thus, confirms the protective role of lycopene in thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis.

Salicylic acid protects gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity: Study in rabbits.

Gentamicin (GM) is a broadly used antibiotic against severe and life-threatening infections, but its efficacy is restricted by the development of liver toxicity. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of salicylic acid (SA) in gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rabbits. Gentamicin and salicylic acid were given at a dose of 80 mg/kg i.p for twenty days. For this purpose, 24 male albino rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Group I remained untreated and served as control. Group II was given gentamicin, group III was given gentamicin along with Salicylic acid (SA) and group IV was given only salicylic acid. The degree of hepatoprotection was measured by assessment of body weight, liver weight, absolute liver weight and estimations of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total and direct bilirubin, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Significant reduction in the elevated liver weight, plasma levels of AST, ALT, bilirubin and tissue MDA and significant elevation in reduced body weight, SOD and CAT activities were found that confirms the protective role of salicylic acid in gentamicin induced hepatotoxicity.