Amelioration of thioacetamide-induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats by rutin

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of rutin on hepatotoxicity induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in rats. Four groups of male Wistar rats consisting of six rats each were used: Group I: control group; Group II: rats receiving single injection of 300 mg kg^-1 body weight of TAA intraperitoneally; Group III: rats administered rutin (10 mg kg^-1 body weight) dissolved in saline orally for 2 weeks; and Group IV: rats administered rutin (10 mg kg^-1 body weight) dissolved in saline orally for 2 weeks followed by TAA injection last day of second week. All groups were sacrificed after 24 h of treatment and hepatic toxicity was analyzed with respect to liver toxicity markers, liver DNA fragmentation, and histology of liver tissue. Administration of TAA in Wistar rats resulted in significant increase of hepatic markers, DNA fragmentation in the hepatocytes, and changes in histology. Pretreatment of rats with rutin before 2 weeks of TAA assault resulted in the complete reversal of TAA-mediated hepatic toxicity ( P < 0.0001 to P < 0.01) with concomitant restoration of DNA fragmentation. This study suggests rutin as a protective agent for restoration of toxicity caused by TAA.