Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of lactéol® forte against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic damage in rats. Twenty male albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups (five rats each) as followed control group: received 0.2 ml of distilled water/ 100 g B.W./ day orally 5 times/week, TAA-treated group: received an intraperitoneal injection (I/P) of TAA at a dose of 200 mg/kg B.W. twice/ week, Lactéal fort-treated group: received lactéal fort (1 × 109 CFU/rat) orally 5 times/week, and TAA + Lactéal fort: I/P injected with TAA (200 mg/kg B.W.) and lactéal fort was given orally (1 × 109 CFU/rat). Six weeks post-treatment, biochemical results indicated that TAA induced a significant elevation in the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase AST and no significant difference was observed in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as compared to control. While, no significant changes in serum levels of hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, and GGT) were recorded. Histopathologically, TAA induced various degenerative, necrotic, fibroblastic and hyperplastic alterations. Conversely, the administration of lactéol® forte improved TAA-induced hepatic histopathologic alterations. In conclusion, lactéol® forte improved serum liver enzymes and liver damage, suggesting it to have useful protective potential against liver injury.

Key words: Thioactamide, Lactéol® forte, Liver, Rats, Histopathology.