A comparison of the effects of thymoquinone, silymarin and N-acetylcysteine in an experimental hepatotoxicity

This study investigated the effects of thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine in a rat model with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Although numerous similar studies are available, we aimed to compare the efficacy of these agents by considering N-acetylcysteine as a reference compound. A total of 50 male Wistar albino rats were randomly designated as 5 groups: Group I, CCl4; group II, thymoquinone and CCl4; group III, silymarin and CCl4; group IV, N-acetylcysteine and CCl4; group V, control group. CCl4 was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg (a mixture of CCl4: olive oil, 1:2) twice a week. Thymoquinone was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg, silymarin was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and N-acetylcysteine was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg by daily intraperitoneal injection. At the end of four weeks, blood and liver tests were analyzed. The results were evaluated statistically via the one-way ANOVA test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine improved the levels of alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and interleukin-6, which were increased by CCl4. Thymoquinone and silymarin showed the positive increase in liver glutathione levels. Thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine improved blood total oxidant status. In the histological examinations of liver tissue, thymoquinone decreased necrosis...
Source: Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research