Protective Effect of Oral Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Against AcetaminophenInduced Hepatic Injury in Rats

Abstract

The incidence of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity is reported to be on 
the increase, with limited therapeutic or chemoprophylactic options. In the 
present in vivo study, single daily oral doses (100 – 500 mg/kg) of ascorbic 
acid (ASC) were investigated for their protective effects against 
acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in 4 groups of rats made up of 
6 rats per group for 14 days. Also, effects of the doses on body weights taken 
on the 1st, 7th and 15th day of the experiment were also investigated. On the 
15th day, blood samples for serum ALT, AST and FBG assay were collected 
through cardiac puncture under inhaled diethyl ether anaesthesia. Rat livers 
were also studied for histopathology. Results showed that treatment with 
APAP intraperitoneal injection induced significant (P<0.001) elevation in the 
serum levels of ALT and AST while inducing significant (P<0.05) decrease in 
the serum FBG. The hepatotoxicity was also corroborated by the 
histopathological lesion of lipid peroxidation characterized by diffuse 
ballooning degeneration with lymphocytic infiltration. Significant (P<0.01) 
weight loss and hypoglycaemia were also associated with APAP-induced 
hepatotoxicity. However, these alterations were attenuated in ASC pretreated 
rats dose dependently. Also, APAP-induced hypoglycaemia and weight loss 
were significantly (P<0.01, P<0.001) enhanced by ASC in dose related 
pattern. Thus, results of this study showed that 100 – 500 mg/kg/day was 
protective against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, effect which could have 
been mediated via its inherent free radical scavenging and/or free radicals 
generation inhibiting activities.