Hepatoprotective role of Legalon 70 against hydrogen peroxide in chickens.

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of Legalon 70, a standard hepatic drug of silymarin, in reducing the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in broiler chickens.

Twenty Ross broiler chickens of 30-day old were divided into four groups, Group 1 control, received drinking tap water, Group 2 treated with 0.5% H₂O₂ in drinking water, Group 3 treated with 0.5% H₂O₂ and 3 mg/Kg Legalon 70 daily, and Group 4 treated with a single oral dose of 3 mg/Kg Legalon 70 daily. After 4 weeks of the treatment, chickens were killed and the serum collected for the measuring of liver functions parameters, and the liver tissues used for processing the histological examination.

The results indicated that H₂O₂ treatment significantly elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and bilirubin level (direct and total) and decreased level of serum albumin comparing with control group. Treatment with Legalon 70 significantly reversed the H₂O₂-induced alteration and has positive effects on the liver functions parameters. Results of histopathology of H₂O₂-treated group showed severe vascular congestion, alveolar damage, and inflammatory cell infiltration, silymarin treatment blocked these changes and reduced the toxic effects of H₂O₂ toward liver cells.

We concluded that silymarin induces the liver function recovery and considered in the treatment of liver injury. Silymarin, a major component of milk thistle, has been used as a hepatoprotector.