Protective Effect of Silybin in Rats Liver Toxicity

• Published in: Lucrări științifice zootehnie şi biotehnologii Vol. 43; no. 1; p. 506
• Main Authors: Roxana Popescu, Doina Verdes, Marioara Nicoleta Filimon, Laura Smaranda Gotia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Agroprint Timisoara 01-10-2023
• Subjects: alcohol; ccl4; hepatotoxicity; silybin
• ISSN: 1841-9364; 1841-9364

Silybin is a flavonoid extracted from the herb Armurariu (Silybum marianum) and has the potential efficacy in the treatment of liver disease. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of alcohol and CCl4 on liver histology and the capacity of silybin to ameliorate the hepatotoxicity. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were used in the study. Liver toxicity was induced by dietary alcohol administration and CCl4 intra-peritoneal injection. The protective effect of silibin was investigated by co-administration of silybin with these toxic agents. Hepatocellular and extracellular matrix integrity was determined by histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Hematoxylin-Eosin and trichrome stains sections were studied in each case. For immunohistochemistry we used monoclonal anti-collagen IV primary antibody. Light microscopic evaluation of liver tissues shows that control and silibin treated groups has normal liver structure. In the toxicity groups, HE and trichromic staining showed hepatocellular necrosis, inflammatory infiltrate and proliferating collagen fibers. Immunoexpression of collagen IV was variable. In the control group, we found negative expression. Collagen IV displays positive immunoreaction in hepatotoxicity groups, at the level of the areas rich in inflammatory infiltrate and with degenerative aspect.  After this study, we can conclude that silybin, in rats, has protective effects.