Hepatoprotective Effects of Chitosan and Chitosan Nanoparticles

According to reports, when exposed to hazardous compounds like ethanol, hepatocytes are vulnerable to the harmful effects of oxidants. Chitosan is a potential chemical for the field of toxicity prevention because it possesses a variety of therapeutic qualities. The chemical makeup of chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles were assessed in this study using FTIR spectroscopy, and their particle size and antioxidant activity were assessed in vitro using DPPH. The in vivo hepatoprotective properties against ethanol-induced liver injury were assessed in male Wister rats. In both investigations, silimarin (100 mg/kg b.w.) and chitosan plus chitosan nanoparticles (200 mg/kg b.w.) were given orally. 3.76 gm/kg b.w. of 40% ethanol administered orally for 30 days caused liver damage. In the DPPH scavenging activity assay, chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles both showed antioxidant activity; however, chitosan nanoparticles were more effective than chitosan overall. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by measuring plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, and plasma antioxidant status (MDA concentration, and catalase activity). Raised plasma AST, ALT, and MDA levels in rats after ethanol treatment showed liver injury. In a preventive model, the administration of chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles, and silimarin reduced the harmful effects of ethanol on the aforementioned plasma parameters. According to the findings of the current investigation, chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles significantly inhibit ethanol-induced liver damage and have antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties.