Selective protective effect of an extract from Fumaria parviflora on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.
1. The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous-methanolic extract of Fumaria parviflora was investigated against paracetamol- and CCI4-induced hepatic damage. 2. Paracetamol (1 g/kg; orally) produced 100% mortality in mice; pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) reduced the death rate to 50%. 3. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg, orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented (P < 0.001) the paracetamol (640 mg/kg)-induced rise in serum enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and transaminases (GOT and GPT), whereas the same dose of the extract was unable to prevent (P > 0.05) the CCI4-induced rise in serum enzyme levels. 4. Posttreatment with 3 successive doses of the extract (500 mg/kg, 6 hourly) also restricted the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. 5. The plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) caused significant prolongation in pentobarbital (75 mg/ kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice (P < 0.05), suggestive of an inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes (MDME). 6. It is conceivable therefore, that Fumaria parviflora extract exhibits a selective protective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, probably mediated through MDME inhibition.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Aga Khan University, Medical College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
A H
AH
Gilani
K H
KH
Janbaz
M S
MS
Akhtar
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013331:Strychnine / Q000633:toxicity
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D013331:Strychnine