The histoarchitectural and histomorphometric effects of ß, Ɛ -carotene-3,3’-diol on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats

Liver injury is one of the most frequent life-threatening injuries in humans, caused by several factors such as viral agents, ethanol or drugs.The consumption of ethanol is globally, making it one of the leading risk factors for liver injury.This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of ß, Ɛcarotene-3, 3'-diol on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats (190 -220 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (A-F) of eight rats each.Liver injury was induced in rats in groups B-F by the oral administration of 2 mL/kg b.w of 40% ethanol, once daily, for 21 days.After the last ethanol administration, the animals were fasted for twenty-four hours for gastric emptying.Thereafter, the animals in groups C-E were subjected to oral administration of ß, Ɛ-carotene-3,3'-diol, one dose every 12 h, for 21 days.Group F (positive control) rats were treated with oral administration of silymarin, at a dose of at a dose of 200 mg/bw in every 12 h, for 21 days.At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, the livers were excised and fixed for on histopathological and histomorphological analyses.The results showed that ethanol induced liver injury, characterized by the presence of pathological cell degeneration.Ethanol also reduced the number of intact hepatocytes and the percentage area of reticulin fibers.We conclude that treatment with ß, Ɛ-carotene-3,3'-diol mitigated ethanol-induced liver injury in a dose-dependent manner.This result highlights its ability to ameliorate ethanol-induced liver injury.