Background/Ain: There is no standard treatment for liver fibrosis.
Given a lack of effective treatment for many chronic liver diseases, this
has been an active area. Liver fibrosis may regress following treatment
with antifibrotic drugs. This study evaluate the ant/fibrotic effect of melatonin
on rats with hepatic fibrosis.
Methods: Fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride
(CCL4) administration for 6 weeks. Fibrotic rats were randomly assigned
to one of three groups. Silymarin (50mg/Kg), melatonin (5mg/
Kg) or melatonin (10mg/Kg), each given orally for 4 weeks starting 2
weeks after CCL4 injection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total proteins,
serum albumin and albumin globulin(A/G) ratio were performed
by calorimetric methods. Hepatic tissue specimens were histopathologically
evaluated according to Scheuer system by hematoxylin & eosin
staining.
Results: There was significant decrease in fibrosis score in all treated
groups Silymarin (50mg/Kg), melatonin (5mg/Kg) or melatonin
(10mg/Kg) (p=0.000), no detectable differences between the silymarin
and melatonin 5mg treated groups, but significant differences between
the silyrnarin and melatonin 10mg and melatonin 5mg, melatonin
10mg treated groups(p=0.24, p=0.0004 and p=0.000) respectively, no
detected focal hepatic steatosis in melatonin treated groups. Melatonin
administration at a dose of lOrng more beneficial than melatonin at a
dose of 5mg as regard the changes In biochemical parameters.
conclusion: The results showed that melatonin exerted ant/fibrotic
effect as well as improvement of hepatic steatosis in rats with CCL4 induced liver fibrosis may be used as a therapeutic option
against hepatic fibrosis. |
