Effect Of Molnupiravir On Ichemia/Reperfusion Damage In Rat Liver, An Experimental Study

Abstract Background Ischemia occurs when blood supply to tissues is limited, resulting in cellular dysfunction and necrosis. Reperfusion, or the process of restoring blood flow, can result in an overabundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and toxic byproducts. The I/R (Ischemia / Reperfusion) technique used in liver resection and transplantation has been linked to liver damage. Molnupiravir, a non-hepatotoxic oral medicine, is converted into N-hydroxycytidine (NHC). The purpose of this study is to see how molnupiravir affects I/R-induced damage of liver in rats. Methods We divided the rats into three groups: Sham operation (SG) (n = 6), Liver I/R (LIR) (n = 6), and Molnupiravir + Liver I/R (MIR) (n = 6) groups. The MIR group (n = 6) received 40 mg/kg of molnupiravir. All animals were subjected to laparotomy, hepatic ischemia (1 hour), and reperfusion (6 hours). At the end of the trial, liver tissue samples were tested for IL-1β, tGSH, NF-κB, MDA, and TNF-α levels, as well as histopathological examination. The levels of ALT and AST in the blood were determined. The MIR group's results were in comparison to the SG and LIR groups. Results Biochemical examination revealed that NF-ƘB, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ALT, and AST measurements were higher in the LIR and MIR groups than in the SG group. The SG group had the highest tGSH values. Histopathological examinations revealed that the MIR group had the most damage. Conclusion While molnupiravir, which is included in COVID-19 treatment regimen since it has no projected liver toxicity, does not affect healthy liver tissue, it does exacerbate ischemia/reperfusion injury in stressed liver tissue. Molnupiravir should be used with caution because it has the potential to aggravate liver damage during procedures such as liver transplantation or resection.