The role of antioxidant vitamins (C and E) , selenium and Nigella sativa in the prevention of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rabbits: new hopes
Türkdoğan, M.K.; Ağaoğlu, Z.; Yener, Z.; Sekeroğlu, R.; Akkan, H.A.; Avci, M.E.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 108(2): 71-73
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 11367885 Document Number: 537458
Prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis was studied in rabbits. Superoxide dismutase values in all of the treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control untreated group at week 12 of experiment, while at weeks 6 and 12 of experiment glutathione peroxidase values in the vitamin C treated group were significantly different from those in the control group. Histopathologically, hepatocellular necrosis, degeneration and advanced fibrosis were found in the control group. Lesions were minor and only confined to mid-zonal regions without centrilobular necrosis and fibrosis in the Nigella sativa (NS) treated animals. Lesions in the vitamin C treated animals were similar to those of the control group. Fewer parenchymal changes with fibrosis were seen in the selenium and vitamin E treated animals than in the control group, but these changes were more obvious than those in NS group. Histopathology showed that NS may be useful in preventing liver fibrosis in rabbits. Vitamin E plus selenium had little therapeutic effect and vitamin C seemed to be ineffective.