Protective effect of L-ornithine-L-aspartate and silymarin on chemically induced kidney toxicity and thyroid dysfunction in mice

Abstract

The present study was designed to reveal the hitherto unknown efficacy of two commonly used hepatoprotective drugs, L-ornithine-L-aspartate (lornit) and silymarin in the regulation of kidney toxicity and thyroid dysfunction in mice. Renal and hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) was induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 2 weeks (2.0 gm/kg twice a week). In two separate groups, along with CCl4 animals were also treated with either lornit (200 mg/kg) or silymarin (100 mg/kg) every day for the same duration. Other than hepatic and renal LPO, alterations in the concentrations of serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), glucose and insulin and in hepatic type-1 iodothyronine 5’monodeiodinase (5’DI) activity were considered as major parameters. Simultaneously activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphahatase (ALP) and hepatic and renal superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione content (GSH) were also studied. Lornit or silymarin administration reversed almost all the toxic effects exhibited by CCl4 including enhanced tissue LPO, serum ALT, AST and ALP activities and the concentrations of insulin and glucose. Both test drugs also significantly increased hepatic 5’DI activity, cellular antioxidants such as SOD, CAT and GSH and serum levels of both the thyroid hormones.