Whey protein products and their combination with L-methionine prevent liver fibrosis incidence in thioacetamide-toxicated rats

effect of Beta-lactglobulin (β-LG), Lacprodan®alpha-10(LAC) and L-methionine as hepatoprotective agents against thioacetamide (TAA) rats' model was studied. Method: Group 1 control negative; Group2 control positive(TAA only) , the treated 3-9 groups received TAA (100mg/kg, i.p.) twice weekly ,group3,4 received daily β-LG (100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg ), respectively. Group 5 received a combination of β-LG (50 mg/kg) and L-methionine (40 mg/kg).Groups 6,7 and 8 received the same as groups 3,4 and 5 except we use LAC instead of β-LG ,while group 9 received L-methionine (40 mg/kg ) only .Results: TAA induced elevation in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin(TB) .Moreover, TAA induced oxidative stress indicated in elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide content(NO) as well as reduction in antioxidant enzymes( hepatic reduced glutathione concentration (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity). Administration of whey proteins and Lmethionine concurrently with TAA attenuated hepatic fibrosis induced by TAA. WPs and L-methionine caused decline in serum AST, ALT, ALP and TB levels besides reduction of MDA and NO free radicals while increased GSH concentration, SOD activity. Conc.: whey proteins useful as pharmacological agent that suppress hepatic fibrosis. KEYWORDS-Beta-lactglobulin,Lacprodan-alpha-10,Liverfibrosis,L-methionine, oxidative stress, Thioacetamide.