Hepato-Protective Effects of Silymarin and Coffee in Rats

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of silymarin and coffee on liver enzymes in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Study Design: Experimental-randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted from October 2018 to October 2019 in Pharmacology Department at IIMCT in mutual collaboration with National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad. Material and Methods: At day 0 after initial blood sampling, Acetaminophen (300 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal route was given to 30 rats to induce hepatotoxicity. These rats were further divided into three experimental groups on day 8. Group 2 was a disease control group, Silymarin (100mg/kg) was given to group 3 rats and group 4 rats were treated with Coffee (200 mg/kg) through intragastric gavage for fourteen days. Terminal blood sampling was done at day 21 through cardiac puncture for biochemical estimation on same day. Mean± SEM was calculated and analyzed through SPSS 20. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Our results showed major elevation (p<0.05) in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in group 2 when compared to normal control -group. The rats treated with silymarin & coffee considerably (p <0.05) lowered biomarker enzymes in comparison to disease control group 2 respectively. Conclusion: Coffee lowers ALT and AST levels as compared to Silymarin in Acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Keywords

• acetaminophen, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferases, coffee, silymarin.