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Abstract

Objective The aim was to investigate possible prophylactic and therapeutic effects of carvedilol and cilostazol on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in rats. Background Liver fibrosis is a major public health problem worldwide. Materials and methods A total of 50 adult male rats weighing 200–250 g were used and distributed in five groups (10 rats each): group I (control), group II (thioacetamide), group III (carvedilol + thioacetamide), group IV (cilostazol + thioacetamide), and group V (carvedilol + cilostazol + thioacetamide). At the end of the experiment, rats were killed, and blood samples were used for measuring serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase. Results Carvedilol, cilostazol, and their combination significantly decrease elevated liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase by 18, 24, and 29% (P = 0.003 for all) and 25, 27, and 29% (P = 0.034 for all), respectively; decrease biomarkers of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α by 62, 65, and 68% (P < 0.001 for all) and 16, 21, and 22% (P = 0.028 for all), respectively; and significantly increase glutathione peroxidase by 111, 121, and 128% (P < 0.001 for all) caused by thioacetamide. Conclusions Carvedilol and cilostazol may play a role in hepatic protection in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis. Combined treatment showed a better hepatoprotective effect than either treatment alone did.

Subject Area

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Article Type

Original Study

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