Protective effect of vitamin c and ß-carotene against nickel-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nickel sulphate (25 mg/kg diet) and to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C and β-carotene (200mg/kg diet) on the liver of male albino rats. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, lipids peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) were determined. The results showed that nickel sulphate administration for eight weeks induced highly significant (P<0.01) increase of ALT, AST activities and MDA level, highly significant decrease in the activity of SOD and significant (P<0.05) decrease in Hb concentration in rats. The supplementation of vitamin C simultaneously with nickel sulphate showed insignificant reduction in ALT and AST activities, highly significant increase in SOD activity and significant decrease in MDA level, while supplementation of β-carotene with nickel sulphate induced a significant reduction in ALT, AST activities and MDA level with highly significant increase in SOD activity as compared with nickel sulphate treated rats. Supplementation of vitamin C or β-carotene induced an insignificant increase in Hb concentration in rats comparing with nickel sulphate treated group.