Hepatoprotective Effect of Estradiol and -Lipoic Acid in Rats

Chronic liver diseases are common worldwide and are characterized by a progressive evolution from steatosis to chronic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of estradiol and -lipoic acid against carbon tetrachloride (CCl )-induced liver damage. Six groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 4 weeks as follows: the 4 control group, the group treated orally twice a week with CCl (100 mg/kg b.w), the groups treated 4 intraperitonealy with estradiol (1 mg /kg b.w), the group treated orally with -lipoic acid (50 mg/kg b.w) and the groups treated with estradiol or -lipoic acid plus CCl . The results showed that treatment with CCl induced 4 4 significant changes in serum biochemical parameters, the histological and histochemical pictures of the liver accompanied by a significant increase in MDA and a significant decrease in SOD and GPx in liver. Whereas, animals treated with estradiol or -lipoic acid were comparable to the control. On the other hand, both of estradiol or -lipoic acid could improve the biochemical parameters, decreased the oxidative stress and improved the histological and histochemical pictures in the liver of rats treated with CCl . It could be concluded 4 that estradiol and -lipoic acid have hepatoprotective effect against CCl -induced hepatotoxicity. This 4 improvement was pronounced in the group treated with -lipoic acid.