The Effect of Montelukast on Liver Damage in an Experimental Obstructive Jaundice Model

Montelukast is a cysteinyl-leukotriene type 1 (CysLT1) selective receptor antagonist. In recent years, investigations have shown that montelukast possesses secondary anti-inflammatory activities and also antioxidant effects. For this reason, we aimed to determine the possible effects of montelukast on liver damage in experimental obstructive jaundice.

30 Wistar-Albino male rats were randomized and divided into three groups of 10 animals each: group I, sham-operated; group II, ligation and division of the common bile duct (BDL) followed by daily intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml of saline; group III, BDL followed by daily intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg montelukast dissolved in saline. The animals were killed on postoperative day 7 by high-dose diethyl ether inhalation. Blood and liver samples were taken for examination.

In this study, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.001), myeloperoxidase (p = 0.003), and total sulfhydryl (SH) (p = 0.009) were found to be significantly different between the BDL + montelukast and the BDL groups. Plasma total SH (p = 0.002) and MDA (p = 0.027) values were also statistically different between these groups. Statistical analyses of histological activity index scores showed that the histopathological damage in the BDL + montelukast group was significantly less than the damage in the control group (p < 0.05 for all pathological parameters).

According to the results of this study, montelukast showed a significant hepatoprotective effect in this experimental obstructive jaundice model, which might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.