CANNABIS INDUCED TOXICITY AND CYTOPROTECTIVE ROLE OF VITAMINS C & E AS ANTI-OXIDENTS

ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the protective role of vitamin C and E against Cannabis sativa induced toxicity in male mice.
Introduction:Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the Pakistan and other parts of the world. Cannabis
plant extract comprises of more than 421 chemicals.Cannabis affects nearly every system of the body in humans.
Cannabis has an effect on hepatic functions and study showed an increase in ALP&ALT levels, whereas the levels of
AST decreases in men and rats after use of Canabbissativa extract.
Subjects & Methods: This comparative study was carried out at department of Biochemistry, Khyber Medical College,
Peshawar, Department of Pharmacy &Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar in the year 2015 on 150
apparently healthy male mice meeting the predetermined selection criteria.
Results: Results indicated that mice (Group B and C) which were given vitamin C (100mg/kg body weight) and vitamin
E (200 mg/kg body weight) respectively and to see whether they have reversed these changes in the cardiac enzymes
caused by Cannabis; encouraging results have been obtained and these change were significantly higher (P<0.005)
for ALP, ALT and LDH in both the groups B and C respectively when compared with group A mice.
Conclusion: Results exposed that the administration of Cannabis sativa extract had acute toxic effects on mouse liver
& cardiac enzymes which were significantly reversed by the concurrent administration of antioxidants i.e., vitamins C
& E respectively.
Keywords: Cannabis, Liver enzymes, Cardiac enzymes, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, antioxidants, KMC, ICS.