Hepatoprotective agents as calcium channel blockers in paracetamol-induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity models (curative method) in rats

Abstract

Background It has been reported that accumulation of Ca++ ions in the cells causes depletion of mitochondrial respiration and ATP, synthesis leading to cell death. Furthermore, it has also been reported that paracetamol and alcohol produce hepatotoxicity by facilitating accumulation of excess Ca++ in hepatocytes. Ca++ channel blockers block the entry of Ca++ into the cells. Hence, the present study is planned to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of Ca++ channel blockers in the aforementioned models. Objective The aim was to study the hepatoprotective activity of three Ca++ channel blockers, namely, lercanidipine 1/4th TD (0.09 mg), ½ TD (0.18 mg) and 1TD (0.36 mg); felodipine 1/4 TD (0.045 mg), ½ TD (0.09 mg), and 1TD (0.18 mg); and isradipine ¼ TD (0.0225 mg), medium 1/2 TD (0.045 mg), and 1TD (0.09 mg), with three selected doses in paracetamol-induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats with curative aspects. Materials and methods The hepatoprotective activity of Ca++ channel blockers is evaluated in PCM- (2 g/kg) and ALC-(3.76 g/kg) induced hepatotoxic models in rats. The study recorded thiopental-induced sleeping time; physical parameters like liver weight and liver volume; and biochemical parameters, like alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, albumin, and total protein, which were estimated by using a semiauto analyzer. Silymarin is used as a standard reference drug in both the paracetamol-induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxic models. Standard drug silymarin produced a significant hepatoprotective activity. Results Ca++ channel blockers too at three different doses as mentioned before with curative aspect produced a significant hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxic models. Ca++ channel blockers cured the hepatotoxic effects of both paracetamol and alcohol in rats and offered hepatoprotective activity. Conclusion Lercanidipine, felodipine, and isradipine exhibited a significant hepatoprotective activity in both paracetamol-induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxic models in rats.