COMPARISON OF THE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS OF TAURINE, METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE AND SILYMARIN AGAINST ACETAMINOPHEN-INDUCED NEURO- AND HEPATO-TOXICITY IN ADULT MALE ALBINO RATS.

Abstract

To evaluate the neuro- and hepato-curative effects of taurine (TAU) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in acetaminophen- induced neuro- and hepato- toxicity in adult male albino rats. Silymarin (SLN) was used as reference drug. Methods: A total of 40 albino rats were assigned into five groups of 8 rats in each group. Rats was administered a single daily dose of acetaminophen (APAP, 500 mg/kg body weight, p.o) for 14 days. Acetaminophen treated rats were divided into four groups, the positive control group, taurine treated group, MSM treated group and silymarin treated group. The Acetaminophen- intoxicated animals were treated with the tested drugs for two weeks. A group of untreated animals served as negative control. Results: There was significant (P<0.05) increase in levels of  liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the actaminophen- treated rats, compared to the normal control. Moreover, acetaminophen induced oxidative stress in both liver and brain tissues in terms of increased MDA, GSSG and NO contents and decreased GSH; and caused oxidative DNA damage in terms of elevation of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG). In brain, acetaminophen (APAP) moderately disturbed the normal levels of DA, NE and serotonin. Both silymarin, taurine and MSM normalized the serum activities of liver marker enzymes (ALT and AST) and restored the normal redox status and ameliorated acetaminophen induced DNA- oxidative damage in liver. In addition, both silymarin, taurine and MSM restored the normal redox status and  the normal levels of brain monoamines (DA, NE and 5-HT) and ameliorated acetaminophen induced DNA- oxidative damage in brain. The efficiency of neuro- and hepatocurative effect was SLN> TAU > MSM. 

Conclusion: the study shows that taurine, silymarin and MSM possess significant neuro- and hepato-curative attribute due to their antioxidant properties.

Keywords: Acetaminophen- oxidative stress-liver- brain- silymarin- taurine- MSM.