Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of silymarin on acute toxicity due to tetracycline severe overdose in cats: a preliminary study

The aim of the present study was to determine the protective action of silymarin on acute toxicity due to
tetracycline severe overdose in cats. Thirty healthy cats were randomly allotted into five equal groups. Cats
in group A were given tetracycline (single dose 120 mg⁄kg, p.o.); group B consisted of cats that received
silymarin (single dose 30 mg⁄kg, p.o.) concurrent with tetracycline administration; groups C, D and E were
treated as group B, but silymarin was administered 4, 12 and 24 h after tetracycline administration,
respectively. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), BUN, serum creatinine and total and
direct bilirubin were measured before tetracycline administration and 4, 12, 24 and 72 h later. A single oral
administration of tetracycline increased, significantly, serum concentrations of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH in all
cats of group A, after 24 h (Pnormal values. In group D, there were changes in levels of serum enzyme activities, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). In group E, levels of serum enzyme activities were significantly higher than normal values (Penzymes (Ptetracycline severe overdose, particularly in the first 4 h after exposure.