Silymarin mitigates diclofenacinduced liver toxicity through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress in male rats

Introduction: Diclofenac (DIC) is one of the compounds derived from acetic acid which isknown for its antiinflammatory and analgesic attributes. Silymarin is a flavonoid compoundwhich is derivate from Silybum marianum seeds. This research was done to assess the protectiverole of silymarin against liver toxicity induced by DIC in male rats.Methods: Randomly, 40 male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups as follows: Group 1:control group, Group 2: DIConly treated (50 mg/kg, i.p), Group 3: silymarinonly treated (200mg/kg, p.o); Groups 4 and 5: DIC (50 mg/kg, i.p) plus silymarin (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, p.o,respectively) treated. Various biochemical, molecular, and histological parameters were evaluatedin serum and tissue.Results: In the DIConly treated group, the levels of liver glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxidedismutase (SOD), intracellular glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) significantly diminished andthe levels of total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), nitrite, alanine aminotransferase (ALT),malondialdehyde (MDA), serum tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), and TNFα gene expression were remarkably elevated relative to control animals. In otherhands, treatment with silymarin caused a noticeable elevation in GPx, SOD, GSH, CAT and aremarkable reduction in levels of total bilirubin, ALP, nitrite content, ALT, MDA, serum TNFα,AST and TNFα gene expression relative to DIConly treated group. Histopathological injurieswere also improved by silymarin administration.Conclusion: The results confirm that silymarin has an ameliorative effect on liver toxicity inducedby DIC and oxidative stress in male rats.