The protective effect of different doses of alpha lipoic acid against hepatotoxicity of sodium nitrite in rat

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) presents in vegetables and is routinely used as a color fixative and as a preservative for meat and fish. Chronic ingestion of NaNO2 induced abnormalities in the biochemical parameters associated with the oxidative stress. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on the liver and kidney function tests and the oxidative stress alteration induced by NaNO2 in male albino rats; moreover the microscopical examination was studied. Sixty male albino rats, divided randomly into 6 groups, each of 10 rats were treated for 30 days. Group (1) served as control and fed the basal diet, group (2) fed basal diet and supplemented with NaNO2(100mg/kg diet/day),group (3,4,5 &6) fed basal diet and received ALA at (100,200,300 & 400 mg/kg diet/day), respectively. Rats treated with NaNO2 showed significant elevation of Liver enzymes, bilirubin, urea and creatinine with reduction in albumin levels. In addition to, increased MDA and NO concentrations with reduced GPx and CAT activities. But, all these analytes were reversed and returned near normal upon ALA administration. Finally, nitrite proved to have deleterious impacts on body organs and ALA succeeded to alleviate these bad effects.