Chitosan as a Hepato-Protective Agent against Single Oral Dose of Dioxin

Investigations revealed that tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces hepatic damage. Chitosan exhibits antioxidant properties and supplementations with antioxidants can influence hepatotoxicity. We evaluate effect of dietary low molecular weight chitosan (106-110 kilodaltons) in 3 multiplied doses (1.2, 2.4 and 3.6 g/ kg diet) against hepato toxic effects caused by a single oral dose (5 µg TCDD/ kg body weight) for 6 weeks in adult male albino rats. TCDD decreased body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, serum albumin and albumin / globulin ratio. While it caused an increase in liver relative weight, serum total protein, globulin, aspartate and alanine amino transferases and alkaline phosphatase. Also, TCDD caused basophilic hyper chromatic nuclei, hepatic degeneration and fibrosis. Chitosan alone showed a significant positive effect in measured items except feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio. Also it alleviated most of biochemical and histological hepatotoxic effects of dioxin. Chitosan is safe as a dietary supplement in rat's diet and can mitigate the hepatotoxic effects of TCDD by controlling the antioxidant status and free radicals production.