he Hepatoprotective Effects of Vitamin C and Micronized Vitamin C against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of micronized vitamin C against paracetamol-induced liver damage and to compare its effect with that of ordinary vitamin C. METHODS: 40 male rats were divided into four groups; 10 rats for each: control group; phosphate-buffered physiological saline (0.5 mL orally); paracetamol group (paracetamol 600 mg/kg, orally); paracetamol-vitamin C treated group (paracetamol 600 mg/kg, orally & vitamin C 500 mg/ /kg, orally); paracetamol-micronized vitamin C treated group (paracetamol 600 mg/kg, orally & micronized vitamin C 500 mg/kg, orally). In all groups, potential liver injuries were evaluated by using biochemical, oxidant-antioxidant, histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. RESULTS: Paracetamol administration significantly increased the liver enzymes and decreased total protein level. It also increased hepatic lipid peroxidation " MDA " and the activities of both catalase and SOD while it decreased GSH content and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. It also increased liver DNA fragmentation and expression of caspase-3 in hepatocytes. Histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations proved the hepatic degeneration and centrilobular necrosis in rats exposed to paracetamol. Vitamin C and micronized vitamin C restored the measured parameters nearly to their normal levels. Histopathological changes indicated the protective nature of the Vitamin C and micronized vitamin C against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that, micronized vitamin C has a more potent effect than ordinary vitamin C against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.