Role of β-Hydroxy-γ-Trimethylammonium Butyrate (L-carnitine) and Ubiquinone (CoQ10) in Combating the Deteriorative Effect of Halogenated Alkanes in Liver

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Biochemistry Department Faculty of Pharmacy Minia University

2 Therapeutical Chemistry Department National Research Center El-Dokki, Egyp

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most dangerous health problems which results from
various disorders that damage liver cells over time. The purpose of the current report
was carried out to provide information about the liver injury induced by halogenated
alkanes (CCl4), and to determine the influence of administration of L-carnitine or/and
CoQ10as prophylactic agents against that injury. The study was carried out on 80
adult male albino rats divided into eight groups, 10 animals of each, as follows: four
normalgroups (control, treated with L-carnitine, CoQ10, and a combination of L-carnitine and CoQ10) and four cirrhoticgroups treated with CCl4(control, pretreated
with L-carnitine, CoQ10, and a combination of L-carnitine and CoQ10). Liver cirrhosis
was induced by s.c. injection of a single dose of CCl4(1 ml/kg). L-carnitine (50
mg/kg/day) was given i.p. for four successive days 24 hours before CCl4injection, and
CoQ10was given as single i.p. dose (200 mg/kg) 24 hours before CCl4injection.
Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after CCl4injection, blood samples were withdrawn
and liver tissue samples were homogenized. The studied parameters were: hepatic
reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides, ALT and AST activities, total protein,
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in both serum (with its isozymes) and liver
tissues. The injection of CCl4produced a significant decrease in reduced glutathione
content and total protein levels in serum and liver cells. However, there was a
significant increase in serum ALT and AST activities, lipid peroxides, serum and
hepatic total LDH and serum LDH isoenzymes. On the other hand, groups treated
with L-carnitine or/and CoQ10(prior to CCl4 injection) showed improvement in most
parameters when compared with cirrhotic control group. It has been concluded that
L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10have a pronounced prophylactic effect against liver
damage induced by halogenated alkanes.

Keywords

Bulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences
Volume 28, Issue 2
December 2008
Pages 9-22

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