Introduction: Liver Cirrhosis is a major health problem affecting many people worldwide. To date, no efficient treatment approach has developed for this disease.
Objectives: The current study was conducted to evaluate the potential of quercetin (QR) to protect the liver from thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fibrosis in rats using histological, histochemical, biochemical and morphometric studies.
Material and Methods: The study included forty adult male albino mice. Four groups of male rats were treated as follows: group 1 was the control group, group 2 was given QR (50 mg/kg/day) orally, group 3 was administered TAA (200 mg/kg i.p), twice weekly, and group 4 was given TAA (200 mg/kg i.p) twice weekly and QR (50 mg/kg/day) orally. Animal treatment was continued for eight weeks. After 8 weeks, all rats were weighed then sacrificed; blood samples were taken for determination of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (AP), livers were removed, photographed, and used for histopathological examination by H&E and Sirius red stains.
Results: QR administration protected against TAA hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by increased weight gain , increased liver heaviness and significant inhibition of serum ALT and AP activity rise caused by TAA. Gross examination of TAA rats showed liver cirrhosis with variable size nodules that were reduced in TAA/QR livers. Histopathological examination of rat livers revealed a loss of normal liver architecture (very thick septa and inflammatory infiltration). TAA/QR rat livers, on the other hand, had almost normal hepatic architecture.
Conclusion: The natural flavonoid QR could ameliorate TAA-induced liver cirrhosis and liver dysfunction in adult male albino rats.