Antifibrotic potential of carvedilol and cilostazol on liver fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Objective The aim was to investigate possible prophylactic and therapeutic effects of carvedilol and cilostazol on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in rats. Background Liver fibrosis is a major public health problem worldwide. Materials and methods A total of 50 adult male rats weighing 200–250 g were used and distributed in five groups (10 rats each): group I (control), group II (thioacetamide), group III (carvedilol + thioacetamide), group IV (cilostazol + thioacetamide), and group V (carvedilol + cilostazol + thioacetamide). At the end of the experiment, rats were killed, and blood samples were used for measuring serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase. Results Carvedilol, cilostazol, and their combination significantly decrease elevated liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase by 18, 24, and 29% (P = 0.003 for all) and 25, 27, and 29% (P = 0.034 for all), respectively; decrease biomarkers of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α by 62, 65, and 68% (P < 0.001 for all) and 16, 21, and 22% (P = 0.028 for all), respectively; and significantly increase glutathione peroxidase by 111, 121, and 128% (P < 0.001 for all) caused by thioacetamide. Conclusions Carvedilol and cilostazol may play a role in hepatic protection in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis. Combined treatment showed a better hepatoprotective effect than either treatment alone did.