Colchicine and Vitamin E in the management of paracetamol-induced liver damage

Abstract

Colchicine has found its place in the management of liver damage with blood disease as side effects. This paper reports on the use of Colchicine and Vitamin E in the management of paracetamol-induced hepatoxicity. Seventy-two experimental male albino rats were divided into 6 groups, Group one served as Normal control and was not induced with paracetamol; the other group (2-6) was given intra peritoneal injection of 640 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol and was allowed to develop hepatotoxicity for 72 hours. After 72 hrs, Groups 2-6 were treated for four weeks with water, Colchicine only (0.03mg), Colchicine-Vitamin E (0.2ml/kg), Colchicine-Vitamin E (0.3ml) and Colchicine-Vitamin E (0.3ml/kg). Blood was collected at weekly intervals and liver markers were assayed using standard methods and reagent kits. The level of liver enzymes of 22.00 raised by the Paracetamol-induced was reduced by administration of Colchicine alone to 15.46 and Colchicine-Vitamin E to 14.45 at fourth week. This work shows that Colchicine at low dose of 0. 03 mg/kg body weight or in combination with Vitamin E could be used to manage effectively liver damage, presume to be the action of removal of free radicals.