The Protective effect of L-Carnitine and kiwi fruit extract against benzopyrene-induced hepatotoxicity in the albino rat

Abstract

Benzo[a]pyrene, a member of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, is typically produced during the incomplete combustion of organic matter and has been found to cause liver damage. This investigation explored the protective role of L-carnitine and kiwifruit against hepatotoxicity triggered by benzo[a]pyrene in rats. The study involved albino rats, which were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each containing eight animals. The groups included a control that received corn oil, benzo[a]pyrene (10mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene (10mg/kg) combined with L-carnitine (200mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene (10mg/kg) paired with kiwifruit (500mg/kg), and a combination of benzo[a]pyrene (10mg/kg), L-carnitine (200mg/kg), and kiwifruit (500mg/kg). Benzo[a]pyrene exposure resulted in elevated (p≤0.05) activities of liver enzymes ALT, ALP, TC, TG and MDA while simultaneously decreasing (p≤0.05) GSH, CAT and SOD levels in comparison to the control group. Additions of L-carnitine together with kiwifruit produced favorable changes in biochemical indicators that were modified by benzo[a]pyrene exposure. The levels of these parameters in the serum of rats treated with L-carnitine and kiwifruit were nearly identical to those observed in the control group post-treatment. The use of L-carnitine and kiwifruit to counteract the toxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene also contributed to the restoration of the liver's normal histological structure. These findings suggest that L-carnitine and kiwifruit serve as effective protective agents against benzo[a]pyrene-induced changes in the livers of albino rats.