Healing and Preventive Effects of Calcium Alginate on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Injury in Rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects of calcium alginate on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The study included two experiments. In the first experiment the animals were given daily CCL4 through gavage for 7 days and then 10, 50, or 250 mg/kg b.w. of calcium alginate for 21 days. The increased bilirubin level, enhanced alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activity in plasma and reduced liver glycogen content induced by CCL4 were partly normalized by alginate administration in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, alginate significantly improved CCL4-induced alterations of pro-oxidant and antioxidant biochemical parameters in liver and plasma compared to those of rats administered CCL4. In the second experiment the animals were given daily 10, 50 or 250 mg/kg b.w. of calcium alginate for 21 days before 7-day administration of CCL4. Pretreatment with alginate before CCL4 administration resulted in significantly inhibited increase of the blood enzymatic activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and bilirubin level in a dose-dependent manner. Also, preliminary administration of alginate prevented elevation of lipid peroxidation products and reduction of liver glutathione content in rats given CCL4. These results suggest that calcium alginate exerts healing and preventive effects on CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Mar. Drugs 2004, 2 109