Effects of Lactulose and Silymarin on Liver Enzymes in Cirrhotic Rats Publisher Pubmed



Ghobadi Pour M¹ ; Mirazi N¹ ; Alaei H² ; Moradkhani S³ ; Rajaei Z² ; Monsef Esfahani A⁴
Source: Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology Published:2017

Abstract

Silymarin, a mixture of antihepatotoxic flavonolignans used in the treatment of liver diseases, and lactulose, a nonabsorbable synthetic disaccharide, were investigated to analyze their probable synergic and healing effects in a hepatic cirrhotic rat model. Liver damage was induced by the administration and subsequent withdrawal of thioacetamide. The significant decrease in liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels confirmed the curative effects of silymarin and lactulose. In the silymarin + lactulose group, liver enzyme and malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced compared with those in the thioacetamide group. All treatments led to liver regeneration and triggered enhanced regeneration. Silymarin and lactulose alone or in combination have potent curative effects and reduce thioacetamide-induced liver damage. © 2017, Canadian Science Publishing. All rights reserved.