title: Evaluation of the protective potential of Artemisia maritima extract on acetaminophen- and CCl4-induced liver damage.
abstract: The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous-methanolic extract of Artemisia maritima was investigated against acetaminophen (paracetamol, 4-hydroxy acetanilide)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality at the dose of 1 g/kg in mice, while pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 20%. Acetaminophen at the dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant (P < 0.001) rise in serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) to 1529 +/- 172 I.U./l and 904 +/- 116 I.U./l (n = 10), respectively, compared to respective control values of 87 +/- 12 I.U./l and 31 +/- 5 I.U./l. Pretreatment of rats with the plant extract (500 mg/kg) lowered significantly (P < 0.001) the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 112 +/- 10 I.U./l and 47 +/- 11 I.U./l. Similarly, a hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, orally) raised significantly (P < 0.01) the serum GOT and GPT levels to 463 +/- 122 I.U./l and 366 +/- 58 I.U./l (n = 10), respectively, compared to respective control values of 92 +/- 18 I.U./l and 35 +/- 9 I.U./l. The same dose of plant extract (500 mg/kg) was able to prevent significantly (P < 0.01) the CCl4-induced rise in serum transaminases and the estimated values of GOT and GPT were 105 +/- 29 I.U./l and 53 +/- 17 I.U./l, respectively. Moreover, it prevented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time confirming hepatoprotectivity and validates the traditional use of this plant against liver damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Janbaz
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000432:Methanol