Effect of co-administration of zinc and selenium in ccl4 induced heapatotoxicity

Effect of zinc and selenium alone and in combination was evaluated against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were divided into 6 groups with group I and II as healthy and diseased control. Group III, IV, V and VI received silymarin, zinc, selenium and zinc + selenium as therapeutic agents respectively. Heapatotoxicity was induced in rats by giving @ 2 ml CCl4 + 2 ml olive oil/kg (1:1; v/v) body weight orally twice a week for 4 weeks. At the end of trial, serum biochemical alterations revealed that levels of ALT, AST and ALP increased significantly in group II as compared to healthy control whereas these levels were significantly reduced in all treatment groups which does not vary statistically from healthy group. Group II showed significant increase in LPO as well as significant decrease in SOD, GSH and Catalase in liver tissue. LPO value of group VI reduced significantly as compared to group IV and V which reveals better antiperoxidation action of zinc and selenium in combination as compared to their actions alone. Therapeutic regimen of group VI reflected best SOD and Catalase activity as compared to group IV and V. Hepatocytes of group IV and V showed mild to moderate degree of fatty changes with mild infiltration of inflammatory cells and revealed score 1-2 by histopathological scoring (HPS). Group VI showed mild degree fatty changes with mild fibrous tissue proliferation between lobules as compared to group IV and V with score of 1. Co-administration of zinc and selenium revealed synergistic hepatoprotective action in rat model.