Ameliorative Effect of Vitamin E on Azithromycin Induced Biochemical and Histological Changes in Liver Tissue of Rats

The hepatotoxic potential of azithromycin and the ameliorative role of vitamin E in azithromycin induced toxicity were studied in adult Wistar rats. The study also assessed the effectiveness of pretreatment and posttreatment of Vitamin E in protecting against the injury caused. Azithromycin at 30mg/kg and Vitamin E at 50 IU/kg were administered orally for a period of fifteen days. Azithromycin at the administered dose did not affect the body weight gain or the relative liver weight in treated rats whereas it significantly (P<0.01) decreased the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in liver. Pretreatment with vitamin E increased the levels of ALT, AST and SOD with no significant variations in the levels of ALP and catalase activities in the liver of rats. Significant (P<0.01) increase in the levels of AST and SOD in liver was also observed during posttreatment with vitamin E. The hematological parameters viz., total erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, packed cell volume and differential leucocyte count did not show any significant variation among different groups while the total leukocyte count was significantly (P<0.01) increased in vitamin E alone and Vitamin E pre and posttreatment groups. Histopathology of liver of azithromycin treated group revealed cloudy swelling, periportal fatty change and bile duct hyperplasia. The results of this study revealed that pretreatment with vitamin E could mitigate the lesions induced by azithromycin more effectively than the posttreatment. Hence, vitamin E prophylaxis at 50 IU/kg may be considered beneficial for protection of liver against azithromycin induced damage.