Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Co-trimoxazole Induced Hyperbilirubinemia in Rats

Aims: To evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid on co-trimoxazole induced hyperbilirubinemia.
Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (RIPER), between July 8, 2014 to July 23, 2014.
Methodology: Rats were divided into three groups of six each, Control group were treated with vehicle, Negative control group were treated with co-trimoxazole (36 mg/kg of body weight) and Test group were treated with ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg) and co-trimoxazole (36 mg/kg of body weight). All the groups were treated once daily for a period of 15 days. After one hour of oral administration, blood were collected by retro-orbital method on 1st, 5th, 10th, and 15th days and bilirubin levels were estimated by using semi-auto analyser.
Results: Animals treated with co-trimoxazole have none significantly increased on bilirubin level at day 1stbut bilirubin levels were significantly increased on 5th and 15th days of test (P<.001) when compared to normal group.
However, Animals treated with ascorbic acid + co-trimoxazole have none significantly decreased on bilirubin level on day 1st but from day 5th today 15th bilirubin levels were significantly decreased (P<.001), when compared to negative control group.
Conclusion: On administration of ascorbic acid to rats, the hyperbilirubinemia which was induced by Co-trimoxazole decreases. So, the combination therapy of co-trimoxazole and ascorbic acid has the beneficial effect over hyperbilirubinemia caused by co-trimoxazole.