Antioxidative Effects of Vitamin C on Methotrexate Induced Hepatic Damage in Rat

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the protective effects of vitamin C against Methotrexate induced
biochemical and histological changes in rats.
Study Design: Experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Baqai Medical
University Karachi, Pakistan from June 2017 to July 2018.
Methods: This study included 45 adult male albino Wistar rats aged between 10-12 weeks and weighing around
180-200g. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A, received no intervention and was kept on
standard diet for 10 days; Group B, received 20mg/kg intraperitoneal single dose of Methotrexate; Group C
received 200 mg/kg oral tablets of vitamin C for seven days and 20mg/kg intraperitoneal single dose of
Methotrexate. At the end of the study period, animals were anesthetized with ether, cardiac blood samples
were collected for enzyme estimation and organs were removed for histopathological examination.
Results: Liver sections from Group A demonstrated normal parenchyma with cords of hepatocytes radiating
from the central vein with portal triads at the ends of hepatic lobules while Methotrexate treated Group B
showed severely degenerated architecture along with hemorrhagic parenchyma with dilatation of central vein,
and sinusoids. Comparatively, liver sections from Group C displayed less deranged histologic and morphologic
changes. A significant increase in serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP and albumin and reduction in hepatocyte
count, increase in hepatocyte diameter and a decrease in hepatocyte nuclear diameter occurred in group B,
while above parameters improved in vitamin C protected group C.
Conclusion: This study exhibited that the potential biochemical and histological alterations caused by
Methotrexate can be attenuated by antioxidant effects of Vitamin C.

How to cite this: Younus N, Kazmi T, Askari R, Ali AB, Rasheed A, Mukhtar S, Nangrejo R. Antioxidative Effects of Vitamin C on Methotrexate Induced Hepatic Damage in Rat. Life and Science. 2024; 5(4): 521-529. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.626