Potential hepato-protective effect of α-tocopherol or simvastatin in aged rats

Background: The effect of a-tocopherol or simvastatin treatment on antioxidant defense in liver of old rats was investigated. Methods: Endogenous thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total nitrite/nitrate (NO2/NO3) levels as well as non-enzymatic glutathione (GSH) and enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activities] were determined in the livers of young (3 months), aged (22 months), alpha-tocopherol- or simvastatin-treated aged rats. Scrum lipid profile and liver function parameters were also assessed in these 4 groups. Results: Both alpha-tocopherol and simvastatin almost equally restored the age-induced changes in liver TBARS and CAT activity, serum aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). alpha-Tocopherol, but not simvastatin, tended to restore GST and GPX activities in livers of aged rats. Simvastatin, on the other hand, counteracted age-induced increases in scrum cholesterol, TG, LDL, total hepatic NO2/NO3 level, and preserved a normal liver function during aging. Conclusion: Thus, either drug may be beneficial, in spite of a mechanistic difference in the antioxidant effect of both of them, in alleviating age-induced liver injury.