Hepatoprotective Effect of Coenzyme Q۱۰ in Rats with Diclofenac Toxicity

The liver and kidney are the most important organs in the body, and they both act as target structures for drug-induced injury as a consequence of their functions in metabolisms, detoxifications, storage, elimination of medications, and their metabolites. The present study aimed to examine the role of the natural and free radical scavenger "CoQ۱۰" against diclofenac-induced hepatic and renal tissue injury. In total, ۳۶ adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three equal groups (n=۱۲). The animals in the control group did not receive any medication or treatments, and the second group included animals that received intramuscular (IM) injection of Diclofenac (DF) (at a dose of ۱۰ mg/kg once daily for ۱۴ days). Moreover, the third group was given the IM injection of DF (at a dose of ۱۰ mg/kg once daily for ۱۴ days) +CoQ۱۰. After ۱۴ days, DF prompted signified hepatic and renal injury indicated by elevated biochemical parameters, such as total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid, compared to the control and the third group. However, the group that received Diclofenac+CoQ۱۰ had significantly lower hepatic and renal dysfunctions, compared to the second treated group. DF toxic effects could be the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical effects. Remarkably, therapeutic supplementation of CoQ۱۰ diminished the DF-induced toxic oxidative injury and apoptotic cell death. The protective effects of CoQ۱۰ were attributed to its antioxidants and free radical scavenger activity.