Biochemical Investigation of Hepatotoxic effects of Antiretroviral Drugs on Wistar Albino Rats

Hepatotoxic effects of antiretroviral drugs (Stavudine, Lamivudine, and Nevirapine) on wistar albino rats were investigated using biochemical parameters; Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Total protein (TP). ALT and AST activities were estimated by the methods of Reitman and Frankel, using enzyme assay kits and TP was determined by Biuret method using total protein kits. There was no significant difference in the mean values of ALT, AST and TP in Stavudine treated wistar albino rats. However, there was significant difference in the mean values of AST (25.00± 2.00) and ALT (29.25± 3.19) P ? 0.05 in Lamivudine treated wistar albino rats. Nevirapine treated wistar albino rats showed significant difference in AST, ALT, and TP; (37.50 ± 5.81,38.75 ±3.19 and 3.75± 0.08) respectively P ? 0.05, when compared with the various controls; (20.25 ± 2.00,16.75 ±3.19 and 5.40± 0.10) respectively. The results indicated that Nevirapine was the most hepatotoxic, followed by Lamivudine and least in Stavudine.