# Mitigation of hepatic and gastric impairments induced by flunixin meglumine through co-administration with alpha lipoic acid in male rats

## TL;DR

This study shows that alpha lipoic acid can reduce liver and stomach damage caused by long-term use of Flunixin meglumine in male rats.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that co-administration of alpha lipoic acid mitigates the harmful effects of Flunixin meglumine on the liver and stomach in rats.

## Key findings

- Alpha lipoic acid reduced elevated levels of liver enzymes and inflammatory markers caused by Flunixin meglumine.
- Co-administration of alpha lipoic acid improved antioxidant capacity and reduced stomach index weight in treated rats.
- The results suggest alpha lipoic acid may prevent hepatic and gastric impairments from Flunixin meglumine.

## Abstract

Long term use of Flunixin meglumine produces many gastric and hepatic hazards. The current study aimed to investigate using Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) for treating flunixin meglumine (FM)-induced liver and gastrointestinal problems in male rats. FM alternated with ALA for 14 and 56 days in the experiment. This study divided 72 male rats into six groups, 12 rats for each group. Group 1 (control) received saline and distilled water, Group 2 (ALA) received alpha lipoic acid orally at 100 mg/kg bwt, Group 3 (FM-2.5) received Flunixin meglumine subcutaneously at 2.5 mg/kg bwt, Group 4 (FM-5) received Flunixin meglumine subcutaneously, Group 5 (FM-2.5 and ALA) received FM and ALA, and Group 6 received FM and ALA. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) concentrations, ALT, AST, ALP, pro-inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, TNF-α, HMG), malonaldehyde (MDA), and significant reductions in hepatic and gastric total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were observed. At weeks 4 and 8, FM-5-treated groups had a lower stomach index weight. These changes improved when Groups 5 and 6 used ALA and FM. ALA treatment reduced WBCs, ALT, AST, ALP, NF-κB, TNF-α, HMG, MDA, TAC, and stomach index weight gains in FM-5-treated groups. Finally, biochemical markers and stomach index volume showed liver and stomach dysfunctions in male rats after FM injections. The simultaneous administration of ALA greatly reduced these deficits, suggesting it may prevent FM-related hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases.