The Protective Effect of Nitroglycerin, N-Acetyl Cysteine and Metoprolol in CCL4 Induced Animal Model of Acute Liver Injury

OBJECTIVE: The current study was designed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of well-known drugs. Nitroglycerin, N-acetyl cysteine and Metoprolol in acute liver injury induced by CCL4. The antioxidant effects of b-blockers, especially carvedilol, have been described by several investigators. However, for metoprolol, the effect is a bit query as there is only one in-vitro study showing a little hepatoprotective effect. Thus, it is worthy to re-study the hepatoprotective effect of metoprolol. AIM: To explore the possible hepatoprotective effect of Nitroglycerin, N-acetyl cysteine and Metoprolol Tartrate MATERIAL AND METHODS: The normal serum values of ALP, AST, ALT, TSB and TSP were determined in 35 healthy rabbits allocated to 5 groups before CCL4 induction and at three occasions 24, 72, 120 hrs after induction by CCL4 and treatment with the tested drugs: Nitroglycerin, N-acetyl cysteine and Metoprolol for five successive days. RESULTS: Showed significant decrease in serum levels of ALP, AST, ALT and TSB with a significant increase in TSP level of all the tested drugs measured at 120 hrs compared with the control and their levels measured at 24, 72 hrs. CONCLUSION: All the tested drugs proved in having a hepatoprotective effect when they are given orally to animals. The histopathological sections of the liver tissue supported the real effect of these drugs in the management of ALI.