Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin C on paraquat-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in Swiss albino mice.
Methods: Three groups of Swiss albino mice (n = 10), i.e., control, paraquat (15 mg/kg) and paraquat (15 mg/kg) + vitamin C (20 mg/kg) were used in the study. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally for four days. Blood samples were collected on day 5 for determination of serum levels of liver and renal biomarkers. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed; liver and kidney were excised and preserved in neutral formalin for histopathological analysis.
Results: The paraquat-treated animals showed higher levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), serum urea and creatinine, relative to values for control. Histopathological examination of the paraquat-treated animals showed cytoplasmic vacuolar degeneration and congestion of central vein in the liver, and glomerular necrosis in the kidneys. Control and vitamin C-treated mice showed normal architecture of liver and kidney.
Conclusion: These results indicate that vitamin C modulated the paraquat-induced liver and renal abnormalities in the experimental animals. Thus vitamin C exerts hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects against paraquat poisoning.