Synergistic Hepatoprotective Effects of Activated Carbon and Honey in Acetaminophen-induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of activated carbon and honey treatments on liver function in albino rats with acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Study Design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Rivers State University, between May and September 2023. Methodology: Thirty (30) male albino rats were assigned into 5 groups of six (6) rats each. The groups were as follows: Negative control (allowed water and feed only), positive control (given 270mg/kg of Acetaminophen by gavage), Acetaminophen and honey (given 270mg/kg of acetaminophen and 1.5ml of honey orally), acetaminophen and activated carbon (given 270mg/kg of acetaminophen and 1.5ml of activated carbon gavage), acetaminophen, activated carbon, and honey (given 270mg/kg of acetaminophen, 1.5ml of activated carbon and honey orally) for 28 days. The male albino rats were sacrificed after an overnight fast. They were anesthetized using chloroform. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and put into Lithium heparin bottles for the assay of total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total and conjugated bilirubin. Data for this study were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 23. Values were expressed as mean ± SD; inferential statistics were done using the One – Way ANOVA (Post Hoc: Tukey’s Multiple Comparative Test) with p-values less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of our study showed a significant increase in the levels of AST (p=0.00), ALT (p=0.03), ALP (p=0.00), GGT (p=0.00), and total bilirubin (p=0.03) in the positive control group compared to the negative control group. There was a significant decrease in the levels of ALT, ALP, GGT, and total bilirubin in the groups treated with activated carbon, honey and the combination of activated carbon and honey compared to the positive control group.  However, there was a significant decrease in the levels of AST in the group treated with both honey and activated carbon compared to the positive control group. There was no significant difference between the levels of AST in the positive control group and the groups treated with activated carbon and honey. The positive control group had higher levels of total protein, albumin, and conjugated bilirubin compared to the negative control group and treatment groups; however, they were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study has revealed the hepatoprotective effects of honey and activated carbon in ameliorating acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.