Background/Aim: There is no standard treatment for liver fibrosis. Given a lack of effective treatment for many chronic liver diseases, this has been an active area. Liver fibrosis may regress following treatment with ant fibrotic drugs. This study evaluate the ant fibrotic effect of melatonin on rats with hepatic fibrosis.
Methods: Fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) administration for 6 weeks. Fibrotic rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Silymarin (50mg/Kg), melatonin (5mg/Kg) or melatonin (10mg/Kg), each given orally for 4 weeks starting 2 weeks after CCL4 injection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total proteins, serum albumin and albumin globulin (A/G) ratio were performed by colorimetric methods. Hepatic tissue specimens were histopathologically evaluated according to Scheuer system by hematoxylin&eosin staining.
Results: There was significant decrease in fibrosis score in all treated groups Silymarin (50mg/Kg), melatonin (5mg/Kg) or melatonin (10mg/Kg) (p=0.000), no detectable differences between the silymarin and melatonin 5mg treated groups, but significant differences between the silymarin and melatonin 10mg, melatonin 10mg treated groups (p=0.24, p=0.0004 and p=0.000) respectively, no detected focal hepatic steatosis in melatonin treated groups. Melatonin administrations at a dose of 10mg more beneficial than melatonin at a dose of 5mg as regard the changes in biochemical parameters.
Conclusion: The results showed that melatonin exerted ant fibrotic effect as well as improvement of hepatic steatosis in rats with CCL4 induced liver fibrosis , may be used as a therapeutic option against hepatic fibrosis.