Potential Protective Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Impacts of Diosmin Against Atorvastatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Albino Rats

Abdelhamid, Esraa MohamedMahmoud; Kelany, Mohamed Elsayed; Abdullah, Doaa M; Elsayed, Esraa Yehia Seddik

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.416400.4126

Potential Protective Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Impacts of Diosmin Against Atorvastatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Albino Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine-Zagazig University,sharquia,egypt

² clinical pharmacology department, faculty of medicine Zagazig university

³ Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine-Zagazig University.

10.21608/zumj.2025.416400.4126

Abstract

Background: Atorvastatin is one of the statins that commonly cause liver injury as an adverse effect. Diosmin is one of the safest drugs. This work aimed to study the potential protective antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory impacts of diosmin against atorvastatin-induced hepatotoxicity among male albino rats.

Methods: Five groups of male albino rats (seven rats each) were encompassed in the study. The control group had the vehicle (2.5% DMSO, 5 ml/kg) orally for 30 days, while the atorvastatin group received atorvastatin (40 mg/kg/day) liquified in 2.5% DMSO by oral gavage for the same duration. Two groups were co-administered atorvastatin (40 mg/kg/day) with diosmin at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, given orally for a duration of 30 days. Another group received diosmin alone (100 mg/kg/day) for the same period. Following completion of the treatment, evaluations included serum ALT, hepatic concentrations of TNF-α, MDA, Nrf2, and HO-1. Liver specimens were subjected to histological assessment using H&E staining.

Results: Atorvastatin markedly reduced weight gain (10.0 ± 0.500 g vs. 18.8 ± 0.583 g in controls, p<0.05), increased ALT (253.436 ±2.534 vs. 46.188 ±1.284 U/L), hepatic MDA (7.19 ± 0.237vs. 1.09 ± 0.102 nmol/mg) and TNF-α (378.95 ± 4.271vs. 116.23 ± 2.120 pg/mg), while decreasing Nrf2 (2.54 ± 0.271 vs. 19.80 ± 0.214 ng/mg protein) and HO-1 (3.05 ± 0.171vs. 16.07 ± 0.195 ng/mg protein). Diosmin dose-dependently restored biochemical markers, with 200 mg/kg showing near-normal values.

Conclusion: Diosmin provides dose-dependent hepatoprotection against atorvastatin-induced injury, through its antioxidant in addition to its anti-inflammatory actions.

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