Role of Zinc on Ethanol Metabolism in Intestine of Alcohol Intoxicated Rats

Abstract

There has been escalation in alcohol abuse with an enormous increase in alcohol-related gastrointestinal tract disorders. The study was conducted to evaluate the role of zinc on intestine of rats under ethanol toxicity. Rats were segregated into four groups: Control, Ethanol treated, Zinc treated and Combined zinc and ethanol treated. 1ml of 30% ethanol was given to rats orally everyday. Zinc (as zinc sulphate; 227mg/L) was mixed in drinking water of animals. All treatments were given for 2, 4 and 8 weeks and activities of drug metabolising enzymes i.e Cytochrome P450, Cytochrome b 5 , NADPH and NADH cytochrome-C-reductase and Glutathione-s-transferase were estimated. Significant elevation was observed in the activities of all enzymes in intestine in response to toxicity induced by ethanol after all intervals. Zinc supplementation resulted in normalization of these values. This may be due to its antioxidant potential which provides protection against the toxic effects of ethanol.