Hepatoprotective Effect of Thymoquinone Against Cadmium Induced Liver Toxicity in Wistar Rat by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species

Abstract

The present study was designed to find out the hepatoprotective effect of Thymoquinone against cadmium induced liver toxicity in rat. Four different groups of rats were used for this study. In details Group-I was nornal rat; Group-II was toxic Cd (2 mg/kg/day) has given to rats subcutaneously for 7 days. Group-III was pre-treated with Thymoquinone and followed by Cd (2 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Group-IV was given Thymoquinone (20 mg/kg/day) as a positive control for 7 days. At the end of experiment blood was taken for biochemical study (AST, ALT, ALP and Total Bilirubin) and thereafter animal was killed, and liver was dissected out to analyze oxidative stress (LPO, and GSH). The biochemical study indicated that the level of enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and Total Bilirubin) was significantly (P≤0.01) elevated in the serum of Group-II and TBARS contents were also increased significantly in Group-II while the concentration of glutathione was significantly reduced in Cd induced (Group-II) as compared to normal control. When the rat was treated with Thymoquinone, TBARS content reduced significantly in Group-III and biochemical enzyme were also restored in Group-III while the glutathione (GSH) content increased as compared to Group-II. When alone Thymoquinone was given in Group-IV there was no any kind of biochemical enzyme elevation were found or neither no significant oxidative stress observed. In this way study indicated that Thymoquinone is effective for the treatment of liver diseases against heavy metal.