Liver is a vital organ involved in regulation of several significant metabolic functions and is responsible for maintaining homeostasis of the body as well as detoxification of chemicals, drugs and other metabolites Chronic Hepatitis and mortality due to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is common in Pakistan. Camel milk Lactoferrin has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic properties. Liver cirrhosis is a serious and irreversible disease. it is common in Pakistan population which leads to mortality (Khan AA, 1995). (Anderson and Smith, 2001).These problems can be controlled by taking special measures. Nutraceutical foods like camel milk have many beneficial uses in this regard. Camel milk lactoferrin might be used for the cure of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCI4 in Sprague Dawely rats. Seventy five (75) male Sprague –Dawley rats were purchased from National Institute of Health Islamabad kept in animal house of UVAS Lahore and randomly divided into 5 groups under completely randomize design (CRD). In group (2-5) carbon tetrachloride (CC14) was subcutaneously injected with a mixture of 40% CCI4 (a mixture of pure CC14 and sterile olive oil) at 200 uL/100g body weight as single dose, 48 hrs before the starting of treatment or 0 day. After 48 hrs, rats were considered hepatic injured except the (+ve) control group. Among all groups, four groups –ve control, 30mg/kg/b.wt, 60mg/kg/b.wt and 90mg/kg/b.wt were supplied with standard diet plus Lactoferrin (in different concentrations and doses) orally, while control group were provided only standard diet throughout the efficacy study (30 days). Daily feed and water intake was monitored and cages were cleaned regularly. Body weight was recorded before decapitation throughout the experimental period. The efficacy studies
data was analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA).Statistical significance was defined as P≤0.05.Means were compared for significance difference using Duncan‟s Multiple Range test (DMRt) and Least significance difference test (LSDt).
Organ to body weight ratio and decreasing tendency in (-ve) control group was observed, while increasing tendency for body weight was observed in camel milk lactoferrin treatments groups during the study. In the present investigations, higher amount of transaminases (AST,ALT) and cholestatic liver enzyme (ALP) were observed however, their concentrations were significantly decreased significantly in camel milk lactoferrin treatments as compared to rising trend in (-ve) control group.
Hypercholesterolemia is due to of oxidative stress induced by CCl4 and characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol .In the present research, it is concluded that camel milk lactoferrin treatments were effective in improving lipid profile.it is also obvious from the current results that camel milk lactoferrin treatments improved the hemoglobin (Hb) level although the effect was found non-significant .Likewise , results of present study also suggested that different treatments, time interval and their interaction had non-significant effects on white blood cells count in rats.
Histopathology results of present study given exposed that CCl4 consequences prominent hepatic steatosis, hepatic cord rupture and necrosis .Post treatment of camel milk lactoferrin reduced the severity of CCl4 –induced liver intoxication. Fatty change and necrosis were improved in the histological sections of camel milk post-treated rats.(-ve) control group treated with CCl4 and basal diet showed severe hepatotoxicity, severe inflammation of hepatocytes and portal vein congestion, while group C and D treated
with CCl4 ,basal diet and 30mg/kg/b.wt ,60 mg/kg/b.wt camel milk lactoferrin respectively showed moderate improvement in hepatotoxicity .group E treated with CCl4 and 90 mg/kg/b.wt lactoferrin showed mild hepatotoxicity in rats.