Protective Effects of Quercetin against Isoniazid and Rifampicin Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Drug-induced liver injury is a problem of increasing significance, but has been a long-standing concern in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The present study evaluates the possible hepatoprotective effects of Quercetin against the experimentally induced hepatotoxicity with isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RFP) in rats. Twenty-four rats wereallocated into 4 groups (6 rats in each group), and treated as follow: group I, received normal saline orally; group II, receivednormal saline + (INH 10mg/Kg/day and RFP 10 mg/Kg/day orally); group III, received Quercetin (300mg/kg/day) + (INH and RFP as in group II);group IV, received N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (50 mg/Kg/day) + (INH and RFP as in group II).After 42 days, the rats were scarified; blood samples obtained for evaluation of total antioxidant status (TAS), CRP, and the activities of ALT, AST, and ALP. Liver tissue sections were prepared for histopathologicalevaluation. The results clearly demonstrate that Quercetin provides significant protection against INH and RFP-induced toxicity in liver of rats, revealed as reduction in AST and ALT activities, increase in total antioxidant capacity, and improvements histopathologicalpicture of the liver. In conclusion, orally administered Quercetin protects the liver against INH and RFP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.