Antioxidative stress effects of vitamins C, E, and B₁₂, and their combination can protect the liver against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Figures & data

Figure 1 Comparison between percentage of mitochondrial activity of the different vitamins on isolated cultured rat hepatocytes with and without the addition of 10 mM APAP.

Notes: Isolated hepatocytes were pretreated with VC, VB₁₂, and VE for 3 hours prior the addition of APAP to induce cytotoxicity. A 100% presents basal mitochondrial activity of control nontreated hepatocytes. Each data point represents the mean±SEM (n=6). *P<0.05, **P<0.01. ^aP<0.01 compared to the untreated cells control. Abbreviations: APAP, acetaminophen; SEM, standard error of the mean; VB₁₂, vitamin B₁₂; VC, vitamin C; VE, vitamin E.

Table 1 Serum levels (mean±SEM) of liver function biomarkers

Group (n=8)	Treatment	ALT (U/L)	AST (U/L)	ALP (U/L)	Albumin (g/dL)	Cholesterol (mg/dL)
I	Placebo emulsion	45±2	115±9	171±39	2.7±0.1	79±4
II	Placebo emulsion+APAP	4,350±1,171	4,065±1,194	503±39	2.3±0.1	81±5
III	500 mg/kg VC+APAP	300±112a	1,000±332a	256±48a	3.4±0.5a	78±5
IV	200 mg/kg VE+APAP	970±217a	2,130±453	251±17a	2.6±0.1	96±8
V	10 mg/kg VB12 +APAP	682±217a	1,342±274	209±17a	2.6±0.1	86±5
VI	Intraperitoneal combination+APAP	548±51a	1,318±360b	373±14	2.5±0.1	83±4
VII	Oral combination+APAP	610±115a	1,148±221b	231±29a	3.0±0.1	93±5

Note:

a P<0.01,

b P<0.05 compared to APAP alone treated group (II).

Abbreviations: APAP, acetaminophen; SEM, standard error of the mean; VB₁₂, vitamin B₁₂; VC, vitamin C; VE, vitamin E.

Figure 2 Serum levels of MDA in rats pretreated with vitamins prior to systemic intoxication with APAP.

Notes: Data points are presented as mean±SEM (n=4). The effect of vitamins or their combinations on reducing serum MDA levels of APAP-intoxicated rats were found significant (**P<0.01).
Abbreviations: APAP, acetaminophen; IP, intraperitoneal; MDA, malondialdehyde; SEM, standard error of the mean; VB₁₂, vitamin B₁₂; VC, vitamin C; VE, vitamin E.

Figure 3 Serum levels of SOD in rats pretreated with vitamins prior to systemic intoxication with APAP.

Notes: Data points are presented as mean±SEM (n=4). The effect of vitamins or their combinations on reducing serum SOD levels of APAP-intoxicated rats were found significant (**P<0.01).
Abbreviations: APAP, acetaminophen; IP, intraperitoneal; SEM, standard error of the mean; SOD, superoxide dismutase; VB₁₂, vitamin B₁₂; VC, vitamin C; VE, vitamin E.

Figure 4 Serum levels of total GSH in rats pretreated with vitamins prior to systemic intoxication with APAP.

Notes: Data points are presented as mean±SEM (n=4). The effect of vitamins or their combinations on reducing serum total GSH levels of APAP-intoxicated rats were found significant (**P<0.01).
Abbreviations: APAP, acetaminophen; GSH, glutathione; IP, intraperitoneal; SEM, standard error of the mean; VB₁₂, vitamin B₁₂; VC, vitamin C; VE, vitamin E.