Open AccessN-acetylcysteine+nimesulide: An association strategy aiming to prevent nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity
Author(s) -
Amanda G. Elias,
Julia S. da Silva,
Rafaela Luiza Klein,
Francieli Ubirajara Índia Amaral,
Marcelo Dutra Arbo,
Fernanda M. Conte,
Solange Cristina García,
Eliane Dallegrave,
Janaíne Ramos Martins,
Charise Dallazem Bertol,
Diorges Henrique Setim,
Adriana Costa da Motta,
Raquel Cristine Silva Barcelos,
Luciana Grazziotin RossatoGrando
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of health and biomedical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2674-8207
DOI - 10.12957/bjhbs.2020.59709
Subject(s) - nimesulide , acetylcysteine , pharmacology , toxicity , body weight , chemistry , in vivo , medicine , biochemistry , antioxidant , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Nimesulide is a potent anti-inflammatorywith rapid and long-lasting effects, but also with a high riskof hepatotoxicity. Objective: This work aimed to preventnimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity through the associationof nimesulide with a hepatoprotective agent. Materials andMethods: First, we tested three hepatoprotective agents:N-acetylcysteine, L-carnitine, and Gingko biloba extract inan in vitro hepatic cell model. Both N-acetylcysteine and G.biloba showed promisor results. We selected N-acetylcysteineto continue the studies in an animal model. In vivo study wasperformed using male Wistar rats divided in 4 groups: control,nimesulide (100mg/kg/day), nimesulide (100mg/kg/day) +N-acetylcysteine (100mg/kg/day) and N-acetylcysteine alone(100mg/kg/day). Treatments were given by gavage, daily, for15 days. Results: Animals receiving nimesulide alone showedlower body weight gain compared to control. Body weightgain in the nimesulide + N-acetylcysteine group was higherthan nimesulide alone, evidencing lower toxicity. However,the body weight gain of the nimesulide + N-acetylcysteinegroup was still lower than the control animals. Animals treatedwith nimesulide alone presented an increased relative mass ofheart, liver, and spleen and significant hepatic damage seen inmicroscopy when compared to other groups. N-acetylcysteineco-administered with nimesulide prevented the increasedheart mass, but the same was not true with liver and spleen.Conclusions: This work evidence partial protection elicitedby the association of N-acetylcysteine and nimesulide againstnimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity.