Hepato-protective effect of folic acid and vitamin B12 in comparison to n-acetylcysteine in experimentally induced acetaminophen toxicity in rats

Abstract

To compare the effectiveness of vitamin B12 and folic acid in comparison to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as hepato-protective agent against liver damage in experimentally induced acute acetaminophen toxicity in Sprague dawley rats. 18 male Sprague dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of six each. Group A was administered NAC, group B - vitamin B12 and group C - folic acid intraperitoneally one hour after an acute over-dosage of acetaminophen 3mg/kg. After 48 hours, 1.5 ml of blood was withdrawn and the animals were sacrificed for histopathological examination of liver. The mean AST and ALT of vitamin B12 group did not differ statistically from that of the NAC group. The folic acid group had higher mean AST though not statistically significant whilst the mean ALT was significantly higher compared to NAC group. The reduction in the mean ALP and GGT with vitamin B12 showed statistically significant reduction whereas the folic acid group did not. Histopathology of liver revealed that the tissue architect was totally disturbed with portal tract appearing hemorrhagic and congested in addition to centrilobular necrosis in the folic acid group. In vitamin B12 group, the architecture of tissue was preserved with only mild inflammation. Vitamin B12, unlike folic acid has proved to be an efficacious hepato-protective agent in animal model of acute acetaminophen toxicity.