Our previous study showed that dithiophenolate (DTP) and its
chitosan nanoparticles (DTP-CSNPs) have abilities to bind with
DNA helixes. So in this study, their lethal doses (LD50) and therapeutic roles against rat liver
injuries induced by
carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were evaluated. The study focused on the determination of the markers of oxidative stress (OS) and apoptosis and compare the results with those of
cisplatin treatment. The results revealed that LD50 values of DTP and DTP-CSNPs are 2187.5 and 1462.5 mg/kg, respectively. Treatment with DPT and DPT-CSNPs after CCl4 administration reduced liver
injuries, induced by CCl4, and improved liver functions and architecture through the reduction of OS and apoptosis. Where the
oxidant marker was decreased with elevations of
antioxidant markers. Also, there was an elevation in Bcl-2 value, with decreases in
caspase-8, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. DPT-CSNPs treatment gave preferable results than those treated with DPT. Moreover, DTP and DPT-CSNPs treatment gave better results than
cisplatin treatment. The administration of healthy rats with low doses of DTP and DTP-CSNPs for 14 days had no effect. Otherwise, the study on HepG2 cell line showed that DTP and DPT-CSNPs inhibited cell growth by arresting cells in the G2/M phase and inducing cell death. In conclusion, DTP and DTP-CSNPs have antiapoptotic and anti-oxidative stress toward hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4. Moreover, DTP and DTP-CSNPs have anticancer activity against the HepG2 cell line. Generally, DTP-CSNPs are more effective than DTP. So, they can be used in the pharmacological fields, especially DTP-CSNPs.