EVALUATION OF THE HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF ALLANTOIN AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE (CCL₄)- INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN WISTAR RATS

Liver injury caused by xenobiotics remains a major clinical concern due to the liver’s central role in metabolism and detoxification. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a well-established hepatotoxin that induces liver damage primarily through oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of allantoin against CCl₄-induced liver injury in Wistar rats. The intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ caused hepatotoxicity. The animals were split into five groups: two groups treated with low and high dosages of allantoin, a standard group treated with silymarin, a CCl₄ control group, and a normal control group. Serum biochemical indicators such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and total protein were measured in order to evaluate hepatic damage. In liver tissue, oxidative stress markers such reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed. To evaluate structural changes in hepatic architecture, histopathological analysis was carried out. Administration of CCl₄ resulted in a significant elevation of serum liver enzymes and lipid peroxidation, along with depletion of endogenous antioxidant defenses and marked histopathological damage. Treatment with allantoin significantly restored altered biochemical parameters, reduced oxidative stress, and improved antioxidant enzyme levels in a dosedependent manner. Histological findings further confirmed the protective effect of allantoin, showing reduced hepatocellular necrosis, fatty degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration. The hepatoprotective effects of allantoin were comparable to those of the standard drug silymarin. The results of this study suggest that allantoin possesses significant hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄-induced liver injury, primarily mediated through its antioxidant and membranestabilizing properties. Allantoin may serve as a promising natural therapeutic agent for the management of liver disorders.