Effect of silymarin on blood coagulation profile and osmotic fragility in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats

Reports about the impact of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) hepatotoxicity on coagulation profile have been inconsistent. Multiple investigators have however demonstrated the effectiveness of silymarin in the resolution of anomalies induced by CCl(4), although the effect of silymarin on the impact of CCl(4) hepatotoxicity, especially coagulation profile and osmotic fragility have not been investigated. The liver, the primary site for the secretion of coagulation proteins, can become impaired in CCl(4) hepatotoxicity, and silymarin reportedly increases hepatic protein synthesis as part of its hepatoprotective mechanism. This study assessed the effect of silymarin on blood coagulation profile and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in CCl(4) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups (n = 5) at random, namely: Control, CCl(4) given CCl(4) (1 ml/kg) administered intraperitoneally twice a week, Silymarin (S) given silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) orally, and S+CCl(4) given silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) orally and (1 ml/kg) CCl(4) one hour after, intraperitoneally twice a week for a duration of four weeks. Results showed protraction of activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time, increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility, liver damage, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rats given CCl(4). Silymarin attenuated most of these effects as observed from comparison between CCl(4) and S+CCl(4) rats. The findings of this study suggests that pretreatment with silymarin attenuated disruption in coagulation profile and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in CCl(4) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats.