PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MULTIVITAMINS AND ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID AGAINST METHOTREXATE AND LEFLUNOMIDE- INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS
Bassant M. Barakat1, Eman A. Mohamed1, Yehia A. Raslan2, Wedad A. Hasan2, Shaimaa S. Hussein3, Sherifa K. Ahmed4 1Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al- Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt 2Department of Pharmacology, National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR) Cairo, Egypt
3Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt
4Department of Chronic Toxicity, National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR) Cairo, Egypt
Oxidative stress is a pathophysiological mechanism key in methotrexate and leflunomide induced hepatoxicity. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of multivitamins, and alpha-lipoic acid against methotrexate and leflunomide induced hepatoxicity in rats. Rats were treated with methotrexate, leflunomide, multivitamins and alpha-lipoic acid, for six consecutive weeks. Serum liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress biomarkers were determined. Liver injury was evaluated by histopathological examination. Methotrexate and/ or leflunomide induced increase in serum liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress biomarkers. Concomitant treatment of multivitamins and alpha-lipoic acid with methotrexate and leflunomide was found to improve the altered liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers. This was coupled with significant improvement in liver histopathological features. In conclusion, data in this study indicate that multivitamins and alpha lipoic acid possess a highly promising hepatoprotective effects against methotrexate and leflunomide induced hepatotoxicity.
June 2012