Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin E on Paraquat Induced Liver Toxicity in Male Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Paraquat is a high toxic organic chemical capable of causing organ and tissue damage by generation of free radicals. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which is domiciled within the cells and organelles of the body and functions by acting as an initial responder against oxygen reactive species called free radicals which attack and destroy the tissues. The study was aim to assess a short term therapeutic effect of vitamin E on paraquat induced male albino rat. A total of 200 male albino rats were used for the study which were divided into four main groups (A, B, C, D) and each group had 50 rats. Each group was further subgrouped into two, having 25rats per subgroup. “A” group was without paraquat induction while “B”, ‘C” and “D” groups were induced in increasing dose of 0.02g, 0.04g and 0.06g respectively. “A” group had two subgroups; “Ao” and “Ave” which represented the sub-group not treated with Vit E and the subgroup treated with Vit E (500mg) respectively. This design also applied to group “B”, “C” and “D” and paraquat induction frequency was fortnightly for three month followed by weekly treatment for one month. Blood and liver were collected and harvested respectively for liver function test (TB, CB, albumin, total protein and globulin) and histological assessment of the liver. There was a significant difference in liver function markers among the “Ao”, “Bo”, “Co” and “Do”, p-value<0.05 except for globulin marker. There was a significant difference in liver function markers among the “Ave”, “Bve”, “Cve” and “Dve”, p-value<0.05 except for globulin marker. The result also showed that there were significant differences in intra-group comparison in total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin markers, p-value<0.05 while other markers were not significantly different. This study observed that vitamin E has therapeutic effect on paraquat induced rats. Therefore, it can be used to reverse liver toxicity.