Abstract
Paraquat is highly toxic compound for humans and animals. It has been used widely in agriculture as herbicide. The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of Coenzyme Q10 against the hepatotoxicity of paraquat in male rats. The experiment was carried out using 24 male albino rats. Four groups of animals were used in this study: control, Coenzyme Q10 (10 mg/kg), paraquat-treated (9 mg/kg b.w), paraquat along with Coenzyme Q10 for 4 weeks. Light microscopic observations revealed that the hepatic tissue of control and Coenzyme Q10 groups showed normal hepatocytes structure. Histopathological observations of paraquat treated group showed severe damage in liver tissue such as hepatocytes degeneration and necrosis, congestion of blood vessels and hemorrhage. Biochemical studies indicated that serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels were elevated in paraquat treated group. Administration of paraquat significantly increased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and Glutathione (GSH) content in the liver of the paraquat administered rats were significantly decreased as compared with control group. Paraquat treated rats showed negative immunoreactivity to Alfa Fetoprotein (AFP) in the cytoplasm of the liver cells. Coenzyme Q10 administration attenuated the damages induced by paraquat in the liver of rats. The results of the present study indicated that Coenzyme Q10 has protective effect against liver damage induced by paraquat.