Therapeutic approach of antioxidants on phenytoin induced teratogenic effect in albino rats

A considerable amount of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that many biochemical pathways are strictly associated with Phenytoin. It increases the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which could be counteracted by the antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E supplementation. In this study, ¬¬Phenytoin was administered at the dose of 80 mg/kg/day in the pregnant rats during fetal organogenesis period. Whereas, Vitamin C and E were supplemented throughout the pregnancy at the doses of 1.60 gm/kg/day and 0.8 gm/kg/day respectively. Phenytoin treatment induced the morphological changes in fetus with flexure defect and unequal sized limbs. It also decreased the fetal body and brain weight. However, Phenytoin plus Vitamin C and E treated group gave birth to normal fetuses with significantly increased body as well as brain weight. Interestingly, Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the maternal rats was also significantly reduced, one of the possible causes of reduced fetal-tissue damage. So, it strongly suggests that Vitamin C and E as antioxidants possess the protective effect over Phenytoin induced teratogenesis.