Protective and antioxidant effects of silymarin in sheep with fasciolosis treated by clorsulon

Abstract

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease that causes economic losses. ‎In the present study, the protective effects of silymarin alone and in ‎combination with clorsulon were investigated in sheep naturally infected with ‎Fasciola hepatica. For this purpose, 40 Sangsari breed sheep ‎were used, which were divided into five groups, including 1- healthy sheep without treatment 2- ‎fasciolosis affected sheep without treatment 3- fasciolosis affected sheep  treated with silymarin 4- fasciolosis affected sheep treated with ‎Clorsulon, and 5- fasciolosis affected sheep treated with silymarin ‎and clorsulon. Biochemical parameters including triglyceride, total bilirubin, total protein, cholesterol, and albumin, were ‎measured. The serum level of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, and ‎hematological parameters were determined and compared among groups. Additionally, histopathological changes ‎were ‎‎‎investigated using light microscopy. Biochemical analysis showed significant ‎improvement in bilirubin levels, total protein, cholesterol, and albumin in sheep treated with silymarin ‎and clorsulon (p<0.05). Total antioxidant capacity increased in group treated with silymarin (p<0.05) compared to group 2, and the amount of oxidative stress decreased (p<0.01). Silymarin also improved hematologic factors and prevented a decrease in red blood cells (p<0.05).‎ Liver inflammation, ‎fibrosis, necrosis, and hyperplasia of the ‎bile ‎duct decreased significantly with the silymarin and ‎clorsulon group compared to the other groups ‎‎(p<0.0001). These findings ‎showed that using ‎silymarin in combination with clorsulon ‎improved their ‎therapeutic effects in treatment of ovine fasciolosis through enhancement of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship.