Ribavirin is the most famous anti- C virus drug all over the world. Silymarin is one of the hepatoprotective drugs belong to the group of free-radical scavengers. Treating albino rats with prescribed dose of ribavirin (10mg/kg daily), induced many ultrastructure changes in the liver. The magnitude of such changes was time-dependant. After two and four weeks of treatment with Ribavirin, most of the organelles (e.g mitochondria) were degenerated. Moreover, the blood cells of Ribavirin treated sample showed highly damaged DNA as detected by (Comet assay) method. Treatment with Silymarin (7mg/kg daily) improved the histological and molecular alterations and reduced the incidence of hepatic and blood illness. It is speculated that, Silymarin as antioxidant may overcome the cytotoxic effect of Ribavirin, or it may block and stopping the reaction between the free radicals and rats molecular organelles.
Key words: Comet assay- Lymphocytes- Electron microscopy- Liver.
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