title: Protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid against chloroquine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Oral administration of a-lipoic acid, a metavitamin, was investigated for its possible hepatoprotective effect in Wistar rats against chloroquine-induced toxicity. Rats were treated orally with alpha-lipoic acid (10, 30 and 100 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)) for 7 days before a single oral administration of chloroquine (970 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)) and alpha-lipoic acid treatment was continued for three more days. The increased level of serum enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, lipids and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides observed in rats treated with chloroquine were very much reduced in rats treated with alpha-lipoic acid plus chloroquine. A significant decrease in plasma antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and vitamin E were observed in chloroquine-treated rats when compared with control rats. Administration of alpha-lipoic acid significantly improved the levels of plasma antioxidants GSH, vitamin C and vitamin E in chloroquine-treated rats. In the case of 100 mg x kg(-1) day(-1) the effect was highly significant compared with the other doses (10 and 30 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)). The results of the study revealed that alpha-lipoic acid could offer protection against chloroquine-induced hepatotoxicity. alpha-Lipoic acid had a better protective effect when compared with silymarin, a reference drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu 608 002, India. paribala@sancharnet.in
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murugavel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002738:Chloroquine