Background/Aim: 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 antifibrotic 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 colorimetric 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 silymarin ,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 10mg more beneficial than melatonin at a dose of 5mg as regards the changes in biochemical parameters.
Conclusion: The results showed that melatonin exerted antifibrotic 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. |
