ABSTRACT
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, various medications have been used to treat patients who have been infected. The aim of this study is to assess the adverse effects of anti-COVID-19 drugs on the livers of adult Wistar rats by inhibiting cytochrome P450. This thesis specifically investigates the potential liver damage resulting from the interaction between anti-COVID-19 drugs and CYP450 enzyme inhibitor (omeprazole). Sixty-six (66) adult Wistar rats were randomly sorted out into eleven groups namely A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K which represent azithromycin (AZI), chloroquine (CQ), control, first drug combination; chloroquine (CQ), ivermectin (IV), lopinavir and ritonavir (L/R), azithromycin (AZI), zinc and selenium (Zn/Se), second drug combination group; hydroxylcholoroquine (HCQ), azithromycin (AZI), lopinavir and ritonavir (L/R), ivermectin (IV), zinc and selenium(Zn/Se), hydroxylcholoroquine (HCQ), third drug combination group; ivermectin (IV), lopinavir and ritonavir (L/R), azithromycin (AZI), zinc and selenium (Zn/Se), Ivermectin (IV), lopinavir and ritonavir (LR), omeprazole, and zinc and selenium (Zn/Se) respectively. Each group consisted of six (6) rats, which were weighed and identified before and after the experiment. Specific therapeutic doses were administered to each group, while the control group received distilled water throughout the entirety of the experiment. Upon completion of the experiment, blood samples were collected for liver function tests, using spectrophotometrical methods. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 27, and the differences between groups were determined utilizing the paired T-test and ANOVA. The result of this study showed a significant increase of alanine transaminase (ALT) on treatment with and chloroquine (5.9126±.10436) (p<0.05) and significant decrease with treatment with hydroxychloroquine (5.2442±0.16603) (p<0.05), omeprazole and in groups E and F. A significant decrease of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) on treatment with hydroxychloroquine (5.9696±.12373) in groups F, G and J. A significant increase (p<0.05) in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels in group A. A significant increase in weight post treatment in groups B (204.83±10.521), F (188.83±7.958), H (207.20±I11.958), A (198.17±16.040), D (192.33±23.905), E (190.60±14.521), G (193.75±6.169) and J (213.300±9.707) (p<0.05), with groups F, H and J exhibiting the most substantial weight gain. In conclusion, this study observed that omeprazole decreased liver enzymes as well as significant weight increases post-treatment.
