Evaluation of the Synergistic Hepatoprotective Action of Metformin and Taurine in a Rat Model of Liver Cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that is characterized by fibrosis and nodule formation that lead to alteration of the normal lobular organization of the liver. This study aimed to elucidate the antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and histological effects of taurine (TAU) and metformin (MET), both alone and in combination, in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Liver cirrhosis was induced by injection of TAA (200 mg/kg/three times/week for 6 weeks). The treated groups were administered MET (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.), TAU (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.), and a combination of both for 5 weeks after TAA injection. The hallmarks of TAA-induced liver cirrhosis include increased oxidative stress, apoptosis, and decreased antioxidant levels in the liver tissue. This revealed that MET and TAU were used to treat TAA-induced liver damage. MET and TAU enhanced antioxidant systems by increasing superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase and lowering malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, MET and TAU inhibited apoptosis through Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 signaling pathways. These biochemical results were confirmed by liver histopathological analysis. Overall, posttreatment with MET and TAU demonstrated significant and synergizing protective effects against TAA-induced cirrhosis.