Abstract
Author(s): Eswaran Maheswari*, Ganesan Raja Lekshmi Saraswathy, Thaakur Santhranii
The present study investigates the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on carbamazepine (CBZ) administered rats. 30 animals were divided into 5 groups. Animals in group 1 received drinking water orally and served as control, group 2 received CBZ 50 mg/Kg dissolved in water daily by oral gavage, group 3, 4 and 5 received (50, 100 and 200 mg/Kg) of ALA in 0.2% carboxy methyl cellulose respectively 1 hr prior to administration of 50 mg/Kg CBZ for a duration of 45 days. The levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin and total protein were estimated to determine the hepatoprotective activity. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase and lipid peroxidation levels were estimated to determine the antioxidant activity. Histopathological examination was also done. CBZ increased the level of SGOT, GSH, catalase and increased lipid peroxidation. Administration of ALA reversed the CBZ induced hepatotoxicity. Histopathological examination revealed preservation of liver integrity in ALA administered rats compared to CBZ alone treated rats. The hepatoprotective effect of ALA was due to its antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals.