Hepatoprotective Effects of Vitamin E and L-Carnitine Against Linezolid-Induced Oxidative Liver Injury in Adult Rats

Abstract

Background: Linezolid (LZD) is a member of the oxazolidinone group of antibiotics which are used clinically in the treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections. Routinely, its toxicity to the liver has been reported to occur with long-term use, as well as toxicity to the skin by causing excessive oxidation.
Objective: To assess the protective effect of Vitamin E and L-Carnitine against the liver toxic effect of LZD in adult rats.
Methods: Adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into Control group, Linezolid group (600 mg/kg b.w) and Linezolid supplemented with Vitamin E group (400 IU/kg b.w), Linezolid with L-carnitine group (600 mg/kg b.w.) Oral linezolid 30-day therapy. Liver function tests (ALT, AST and ALP) were performed. Histopathological examination of liver sections was done to determine tissue damage by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
Results: In the first group, severe pathological histological changes such as degeneration and congestion of liver cells appeared, resulting from the treatment of linzolid with a significant increase in liver enzymes (ALT, AST). These liver toxic changes were significantly alleviated by the simultaneous administration of L_Carnitine and Vitamin E with linzolide (G2 ,G3), and a significant decrease in altitudes (ALT, AST) was also seen with the combined treatment of L_Carnitine and Vitamin E. The results showed that the treated groups suffered less damage to liver cells than the linzolid grou.
Conclusion: Vitamin E and L-carnitine had significant hepatoprotective activity against linezolid induced liver injury in rats as revealed from biochemical and histopathological parameters. All these findings show that these could serve as the adjuvants in the prevention of drug induced hepatotoxicity.