Role of Oxidative Stress in Hepatic and Renal Damage in Wistar rats treated with Fake Paracetamol Syrup.

Hepatic and renal tissues are vital to the survival of a mammalian species. Being organs responsible for the metabolic processing and excretion of xenobiotics, they are mostly affected by the devastating effects of a foreign agent. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible harmful effects of bonadabe paracetamol syrup on the hepatic and renal functions of female Wistar rats. Rats (200 g) used for the study were divided into 3 groups of 7 rats each. Groups 1, 2, 3 were administered with fake bonadabe paracetamol syrup, genuine drug and distilled water respectively.  Serum activities of ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP and levels of total protein, albumin, bilirubin, globulin, urea, creatinine and uric acid; markers of hepatic and renal functions were determined in serum samples. In addition, activities/levels of markers of oxidative stress were determined; namely glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and MDA, as well as reduced and oxidized glutathione. Histologic examinations of hepatic and renal tissues were carried out using hematoxylin-eosin staining technique. Results of the study showed gross hepato-renal damage; biochemistry results were significantly different at p ≤ 0.05, when data were subjected to analysis of variance. Moreover, markers of oxidative stress were significantly different. Histology results also confirmed tissue damage.  The concurrent increase in markers of hepatic and renal damage and decrease in the levels of antioxidant suggest that hepato-renal damage featured by the fake drug administered rats may be oxidative-stress mediated.