Protective effect of Enicostemma axillare- Swertiamarin on oxidative stress against nicotine-induced liver damage in SD rats

Objective. - The current investigation was aimed to determine the hepatoprotective benefits of Swertiamarin (ST) administration against nicotine-induced hepatotoxicity in SD rats. Material and methods. - A total of 48 adult male SD rats were allocated into six groups using a fully randomised approach. As a control, group I was given oral (PO) normal saline. For 65 days, the animals in groups II, III, IV, V and VI received 2.5 mg/kg/day of nicotine intraperitoneally (IP), 100 mg/kg/day of ST orally (PO), 200 mg/kg/day of ST orally (PO), 2.5 mg/kg/day of nicotine (IP) + 100 mg/kg/day of ST (PO), and 2.5 mg/kg/day of nicotine (IP) + 200 mg/kg/day of ST (PO), respectively. Animals were killed on 66thday, th day, liver tissue was removed and used for histopathological analysis as well as biochemical testing (oxidative stress parameters and liver function enzymes). Results. - When compared to control animals, the animals in group II showed a substantial rise in their aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine levels (P P < 0.001). Furthermore, compared to control animals, these animals displayed enhanced hepatic oxidative stress as indicated by significantly higher Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P P < 0.001) and lower levels of Catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P P < 0.001). Further, more histological anomalies were seen in the liver of nicotine-treated rats compared to control rats, including significant vacuolization, poor tissue architecture, the growth of pycnotic nuclei, and dilated sinusoids. Contrary to nicotine-treated rats, the co-administration of ST and nicotine was observed to prevent the abnormalities caused by nicotine (groups V and VI). Conclusion. - The results of the current study show that nicotine can seriously harm liver tissue and that swertiamarin can prevent the harmful effects of nicotine on rat liver. Future research is necessary to delve deeply into the mechanisms behind swertiamarin protective impact against nicotine-induced hepatotoxicity. (c) 2024 Academie Nationale de Pharmacie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.