Protective potential of royal jelly against hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to study the hepatoprotective effect of royal jelly (RJ) against antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 Wistar albino rats of either sex were divided into five groups (n = 6): Group I - Vehicle control (gum acacia, 1%), Group II - combination of isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), and pyrazinamide (Z) (H + R + Z suspension – 27 + 54 + 135 mg/kg), Group III - H + R + Z suspension (27 + 54 + 135 mg/kg) + RJ (50 mg/kg), Group IV - H + R + Z suspension (27 + 54 + 135 mg/kg) + RJ (100 mg/kg), and Group V - H + R + Z suspension (27 + 54 + 135 mg/kg) + silymarin (50 mg/kg). The animals were treated for 30 days with H + R + Z suspension and the test group was concomitantly administered RJ. After 30 days, the animals were sacrificed for the investigation of morphological, histopathological, and biochemical parameters. Results: Antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity was successfully reproduced. Concurrent administration of RJ along with antitubercular drugs significantly prevented the rise in levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, and tissue malondialdehyde. Administration of RJ reduced inflammation, degeneration, necrotic changes in hepatocytes and significantly prevented fall in superoxide dismutase as compared to the group receiving antitubercular drugs alone. Conclusion: RJ is an effective hepatoprotective agent and prevented the antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity.