The effect of alpha‑lipoic acid on oxidative parameters and liver injury in rats with obstructive jaundice.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of obstructive jaundice on the liver and effectivity of alpha‑lipoic acid on liver damage and oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty‑six male Sprague‑Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups per 12 animals, namely into Group I (control group): the bile duct was only mobilized by laparotomy, Group II (bile duct ligation group - BDL): the common bile duct was closed with clips and OJ was caused after laparotomy, and Group III (bile duct ligation and alpha‑lipoic acid group - BDL+LA): after closing the common bile duct, LA was administered in an intramuscular dose of 50 mg/kg for 10 days. On the 10th day, malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels were measured in liver and histopathological evaluation was performed.

RESULTS

AST (U/L)/ALT(U/L) in groups I, II and III were 155.33/51.83, 445.28/165.89, 380.78/173.33, respectively (p < 0.005). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were lower in patient groups than in the control group (0.31 μl/g vs 0.36 µl/g; p < 0.05). After the lipoic acid treatment, none of the biochemical markers of liver improved. Only the increase in superoxide dismutase (0.31 µl/g and 0.34 µl/g in groups II and III, respectively) and glutathione levels (0.16 µl/g and 0.22 µl/g in groups II and III, respectively) was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Histopathological damage was statistically significantly decreased and antioxidant levels were statistically significantly increased after LA treatment (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 23).