1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, MAHSA University, Malaysia
2Dean, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, Ph. D. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia, 42610 Email: vetricology@gmail.com
Online published on 26 September, 2019.
Ethanol induced hepatotoxicity is one of the major problems worldwide and especially in developing countries. Alcohol is the most abused substance and affects the normal defense mechanisms.
Chronic consumption of alcohol can cause behavioral changes, oxidative stress and elevation of liver enzymes due to imbalance between the antioxidant and pro-oxidant systems. Continuous oxidative stress results in accumulation of fat in the liver, which can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease has several mechanisms and progression not fully understood.
Prognosis of alcohol induced liver disease depends on the period of alcohol consumption, percentage and volume of alcohol, inflammatory effects, dietary habits and genetic linkage among others.
This review mainly focuses on updates on alcohol induced oxidative stress, liver toxicity and the effects of pregnancy.
Alcohol, oxidative stress, liver toxicity, pregnancy
