title: An opium alkaloid-papaverine ameliorates ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity: Diminution of oxidative stress.
abstract: In this communication, we show the modulatory potential of papaverine, an opium alkaloid and a well known vasodilator agent on the ethanol-induced hepatic oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. Ethanol treatment (50% v/v) enhanced lipid peroxidation significantly accompanied by a decline in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (G-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and depletion in levels of hepatic glutathione (GSH). Ethanol administration increased hepatic glutathione-s-transferases (GST). Enhanced lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol was significantly reduced when papverine was coadministered (P<0.05). In addition, the depleted levels of glutathione and inhibited activities of G-Px and GR recovered significantly (P<0.05) levelling off to control values on co-exposure. Papaverine (200 mg/kg bw) effectively antagonised the ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation and impaired glutathione levels and glutathione dependent enzyme systems. Our results suggest that papaverine is an effective chemopreventive agent in the liver and may suppress the ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, 110007 Delhi, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aneja
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rewal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konduri
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
keywords: Ethanol; Glutathione; Lipid Peroxidation; Oxidative Stress; Papaverine