Protective effect of Silymarin and D-Penicillamin on hepatic enzymes and antioxidant defence changes due to lead acute toxicity in rat

Objectives: This study was performed to assess hepatotoxicity and alterations in liver antioxidant defence in acute lead exposure in rats and the protective effects of silymarin in comparison to D- Penicillamin.Materials Methods: Fourty eight Albino rats were randomly divided in 8 groups of six animals each as follows: Group 1. control; Group 2 rats were received lead acetate at a dose of 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally (IP) for 5 days; Group 3 rats were received D-penicillamin at a dose of 100 mg/kg IP for 5 days; Group 4 rats were recieved silymarin at a dose of 200 mg/kg orally for 10 days; Group 5 rats were received lead acetate with D-penicillamin for 5 days; Group 6 rats were received lead acetate with silymarin for 5 days; Groups 7 and 8 rats were received silymarin for 5 days followed by lead acetate in combination with silymarin alone or with D-penicillamin, respectively for the other 5 days.Results conclusion: Lead acetate exposure induced significant elevation in the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes in group 2 compared to control group (p 0.05). Liver tissue antioxidant enzyme activities including Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathion Peroxidase (GpX) were significantly lower in lead exposed rats compared to control ones (p 0.05). Silymarin pretreatment and D-penicillamin administration in groups 5, 7 and 8 could significantly lower liver enzyme and improve antioxidant enzyme activities.It can be concluded that acute lead exposure induced marked hepatotoxicity with suppression of liver antioxidant defense system. Silymarin, as a herbal drug with antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, could alleviate lead induced hepatotoxic effects.