Protective Effect of Vitamin E against Herbicide Paraquat-induced Enzymatic Leakage and Oxidative Damage in the Liver of Rats

Paraquat (PQ) is widely used herbicide in various countries. However, PQ intoxication causes liver disease mainly in mammals. To examine the potential ameliorative effect of vitamin E (Vit. E) against PQ induced hepatotoxicity in rats, forty-two rats were distributed randomly into six groups. The first group was kept as control and given corn oil orally. The second group was fed Vit. E (200 mg/kg b.wt.), 3rd and 4th groups were administered 1/4 LD50 of PQ (5 mg/kg b.wt) and 1/2 LD50 of PQ (10 mg/kg b.wt), respectively, while 5th and 6th groups were administered 1/4 LD50 of PQ + Vit. E or 1/2 LD50 of PQ + Vit. E, respectively for 14 days. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and livers were dissected out for biochemical analysis and histopathology. Serum alanine transferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in PQ groups (P=0.003). Serum total protein and albumin were decreased but total bilirubin and lipid peroxidation were increased. The antioxidant body defenses (reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) were significantly decreased in PQ groups (P=0.003). PQ induced various histopathological perturbations in the hepatic tissue. Nevertheless, Vit. E administration to PQ-intoxicated rats significantly restored serum and liver tissue biomarkers and ameliorated histopathological lesions in liver tissue. Taken together, Vit. E could be a candidate hepatoprotective agent against liver damage induced by PQ herbicide.