Comparative hepatoprotective effect of β‐carotene and Liv‐52 against paracetamol induced liver toxicity in male and female rats

Abstract

Serum alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and bilirubin level are known biomarkers in assessinghepatic functional integrity. A remarkable rise in the activities of these enzymesnormally signifies hepatotoxicity of chemical agent(s) in the biological system. Any kind of damage to liver significantly increases the activity of these marker enzymes. In this study, the comparative hepatoprotective effect of β‐carotene and commercially available multiherbal formulation Liv‐52 against paracetamol (2.2 g/kg B.W)‐induced toxicity was assessed in male and female rats. β‐carotene dosage (10mg/kg and 20 mg/kg B.W) and Liv‐52 (5ml/kg and 10ml/kg B.W) were separately administered orally to the test rats. One way ANOVA was performed to check the significant changes in the activities of serum enzymes, bilirubin and protein level between rats of β‐carotene groups and Liv‐52 groups (Separate analysis was done for male rats and female rats). The level of all marker enzymes significantly differed in all the groups of rats showing the comparative hepatoprotective effect of β‐ carotene and Liv‐52. The result of this study demonstrated that the hepatoprotective activity of β‐carotene and Liv‐52 against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity is significantly differing in both male and female rats. Hence, the work suggests that the effect of β‐carotene and Liv‐52 against hepatotoxicity may be dose and sex dependent.