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[EFFECT OF ACETYLCYSTEINE, CORVITIN AND THEIR COMBINATION ON THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF LIVER IN RATS WITH PARACETAMOL
M Ghonghadze1, N Antelava1, K Liluashvili1
1Tbilisi State Medical University, Department of Pharmacotherapy; JSC "Curatio", Tbilisi, Georgia.
Georgian Medical News
|April 29, 2017
Summary
Drug-induced liver injury is a global health concern. Acetylcysteine and corvitin show similar hepatoprotective effects against paracetamol toxicity in rats, with their combination yielding the best results.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is a significant worldwide health problem, with over 1000 drugs capable of causing liver damage.
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose leads to liver toxicity via its metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), causing oxidative stress and hepatocyte death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of acetylcysteine and corvitin, individually and in combination, in a rat model of paracetamol-induced acute toxic hepatitis.
- To assess the potential synergistic effects of combining acetylcysteine and corvitin for liver function correction.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of acute toxic hepatitis was established using a single intraperitoneal injection of paracetamol (750 mg/kg).
- Fifty Wistar rats were divided into five groups, receiving either paracetamol alone, acetylcysteine (40 mg/kg), corvitin (100 mg/kg), or a combination of both drugs.
- Liver function was evaluated through laboratory tests including ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels, alongside monitoring liver mass and animal mortality.
Main Results:
- Both acetylcysteine and corvitin monotherapy improved liver function, reduced liver mass, and decreased mortality in rats with paracetamol-induced toxic hepatitis.
- The combination therapy of acetylcysteine and corvitin demonstrated the most significant efficacy, normalizing laboratory test values and preventing further mortality.
- Acetylcysteine and corvitin exhibited comparable hepatoprotective activity individually, suggesting a synergistic effect when administered together.
Conclusions:
- Acetylcysteine and corvitin possess significant hepatoprotective properties against paracetamol-induced liver injury.
- The combined administration of acetylcysteine and corvitin offers a superior therapeutic effect, likely due to synergistic action.
- This combination therapy is recommended for the correction of liver function in cases of drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
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