The Hepatoprotective Effect of a Newly Synthesized 5-Mercapto-1,2,4-Triazole Derivative based on Nalidixic Acid Against Ccl4 induced Oxidative Stress in Mice

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of a wide range of diseases, including diabetes and cancer. Recent studies reported that the derivatives of triazole compounds have a potent antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of a novel newly synthesized 5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole based on nalidixic acid [1-ethyl-3-(5-mercapto-4-(p-tolyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridin] (MTTN) 3 compound against CCl4 induced oxidative stress in mice. Materials and Methods: The MTTN compound was synthesized through the interaction and then cyclization of p-tolylisothiocyanate with nalidixic acid hydrazide. By using 1 H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and elemental analyses, the structure of the newly synthesized MTTN compound was identified. To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of this compound, forty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups (n=10) as follows: the control group, the oxidative stress-induced group, which was intraperitoneally injected with 10% CCl4 (2 mL/kg), one pre-treatment group, which was treated orally with 200 mg/kg of MTTN compound for 8 days before being treated with CCl4 at day 8, and one post-treatment group, which was treated orally with 200 mg/kg of MTTN compound for 8 days simultaneously with CCl4 co-administration at days 3 and 5. At day 9, animals were scarified and serum and liver samples were collected. Results: CCl4 administration caused significant hepatotoxicity as evidenced by marked elevation in the serum activity of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and high blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was increased with CCl4 administration that was associated with a decrease in the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities (p < 0.05). However, pre and post-treatment with the new newly synthesized MTTN compound significantly reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT, and cholesterol and reduced hepatic oxidative stress as indicated by the decrease in the hepatic MDA level and the increases in the SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the newly synthesized MTTN compound has a potent antioxidant property and can protect against CCl4-induced liver injury. Thus, with more clinical studies, this compound may be used as effective therapeutic agents against oxidative stress related diseases.