Ascorbic acid supplementation causes faster restoration of reduced glutathione content in the regression of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in male guinea pigs

Figures & data

Table 1. Activities of ALT, AST, and GGT in serum after 90 days of ethanol feeding

Groups	ALT in serum (μmol of pyruvate liberated/min/mg protein)	AST in serum (μmol of oxalo acetate liberated/min/mg protein)	GGT in serum (Units*/ml)
C	64.99 ± 4.21^a	149.11 ± 4.17^a	6.71 ± 0.98^a
E	201.45 ± 8.34^b	239.92 ± 11.95^b	19.24 ± 1.68^b

*The molar absorption coefficient of the p-nitroaniline product at 450 nm is 9900 mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript letter differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of experimental design.

Table 2. Toxicity markers

Groups	ALT in serum (μmol of pyruvate liberated /min/mg protein)	AST in serum (μmol of oxalo acetate liberated/min/mg protein)	GGT in serum (Units*/ml)
C	66.49 ± 3.50^a	148.63 ± 5.84^a	6.78 ± 0.79^a
C+AA	63.84 ± 2.59^a	144.08 ± 8.45^a	6.20 ± 0.67^a
E	201.45 ± 8.34^b	239.92 ± 11.95^b	19.24 ± 1.68^b
A	164.59 ± 3.87^c	226.03 ± 11.03^b	13.64 ± 1.64^c
E+AA	81.32 ± 6.42^d	170.96 ± 7.24^c	7.47 ± 0.64^a

*The molar absorption coefficient of the p-nitroaniline product at 450 nm is 9900 mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript letter differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Figure 2. Graphical representation of reduced GSH content in liver. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Table 3. Activity of GSH-dependent antioxidant enzymes in liver

Groups	GPX in liver (1 µmol of NADPH oxidized/min)	GR in liver (1 µmol of NADPH oxidized/min)	GST in liver (μmol of CDNB-GSH conjugate/min/mg tissue protein
C	0.56 ± 0.04^a	7.25 ± 0.66^a	4.80 ± 0.69^a
C+AA	0.65 ± 0.05^a	8.57 ± 1.28^a	4.75 ± 0.59^a
E	0.23 ± 0.04^b	3.46 ± 0.68^b	10.73 ± 1.19^b
A	0.30 ± 0.02^b	4.61 ± 0.53^b	8.17 ± 0.87^b
E+AA	0.45 ± 0.05^c	6.72 ± 0.68^c	5.79 ± 0.74^c

Values are expressed as mean ± SD of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript letter differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Figure 3. (A) HPLC chromatogram of ascorbic acid in serum. (a) Control, (b) C+AA, (c) ethanol, (d) abstention, and (e) E+AA. The retention time was 2.2 minutes. (B) Graphical representation of ascorbic acid content in serum. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript letter differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Figure 4. Graphical representation of TGs content in liver. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of six guinea pigs in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript letter differ significantly at P < 0.05.

Figure 5. Histopathological#analysis of liver (magnification ×40). (A) Control liver tissue with normal hepatocyte architecture. (B) C+AA group liver tissue with normal hepatocyte architecture. (C) Ethanol group, showing altered hepatocyte architecture with vascular steatosis and inflammation. (D) Abstention group showing altered hepatocyte architecture with vascular steatosis and inflammation. (E) E+AA liver tissue showing nearly normal histological features with reduced amount of steatosis and inflammation.