Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the ameliorative effect of zinc sulphate and Essentiale® Forte on the histomorphology and lipid histochemistry of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury in adult Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-five adult Wistar rats, weighing between 150 g and 170 g, were used for the study. The animals were divided into five groups A, B, C, D and E (n=5). Group A received 0.7 ml/kg of olive oil orally. Groups B, C, D and E were administered CCl4 (0.7 ml/kg, orally) for 1 week in 1:1 dilution with olive oil. After CCl4 administration, Group C was treated with Essentiale® Forte (4.5 mg/kg/bw, orally) for four weeks. Group D was treated with zinc sulphate (7 mg/kg/bw, orally) daily for four weeks. Group E received zinc sulphate (7 mg/kg/bw, orally) and Essentiale® Forte (4.5 mg/kg/bw, orally) for a period of 4 weeks, while Group B was left untreated. Animals were left for another one week and subsequently sacrificed under ether anaesthesia. The liver was harvested, weighed and divided into two parts for histological and histochemical studies. Results: Histological analysis showed that treatment of liver with CCl4 caused hepatotoxicity as marked by presence of inflammatory cells and distortion in the connective tissue fibers, as compared to the ones treated with zinc sulphate and or Essentiale® Forte which restored the hepatic histoarchitecture and protected the liver tissue from fatty and degenerative changes. Conclusion: This study showed that combination of Essentiale® Forte and zinc supplement offered better ameliorative effects on the liver of Wistar rats following CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity compared with separate administration of either Essentiale® Forte or zinc sulphate.

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