Investigating the Effect of Vitamin E and C Combined Treatment on Paraquat-Induced Liver Damage in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

Paraquat has been referred to as a prominent suicide agent in a number of nations, not only because it is highly acutely poisonous, but also because it is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and has no known antidote. Vitamins E and C are well-known antioxidants that react quickly with free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to determine the ameliorative effect of vitamin E and C in paraquat induced liver poisoning in rats. A total of 200 male albino rats were used in the study. With 50 rats each, the rats were sorted into four main groups: A, B, C, and D. Each group was divided into two subgroups (0 and VEC), each with 25 rats. The "A" group received no paraquat, while the "B," "C," and "D" groups received 0.02g, 0.04g, and 0.06g of paraquat respectively. All “0” subgroups represented those not treated with Vit E and C combination therapy and those treated with 500mg of vitamin E and 2000mg/dl of vitamin C designated VEC. The paraquat induction frequency was every two weeks for three months, followed by two months of weekly vitamin treatments. Blood was drawn for SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and GGT testing. At p-value 0.05, there was a significant difference in these liver enzymes activities among the "A0", "B0", "C0", and "D0". There was a significant difference in these liver enzymes activities among the "AVEC," "BVEC," "CVEC," and "DVEC," p-value 0.05. As a result, significant differences in intra-group comparisons of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and GGT p-value 0.05 were observed. This study discovered that combining vitamin E and C had an ameliorative effect on the liver as a result of PQ insult.