Effects of sesame oil against after the onset of acetaminophen-induced acute hepatic injury in rats.
BACKGROUND
Acetaminophen (APAP) is a safe and effective analgesic and antipyretic when used at therapeutic levels. However, an acute or cumulative overdose can cause severe liver injury with the potential to progress to liver failure in humans and experimental animals. Much attention has been paid to the development of an antioxidant that protects against APAP-induced acute hepatic injury. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effect of sesame oil against after the onset of acute hepatic injury in APAP-overdosed rats.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were first given 2 oral doses (1,000 mg/kg each) of APAP (at 0 and 24 hours) and then 1 oral dose of sesame oil (8 mL/kg at 24 hours).


RESULTS
After 48 hours, APAP increased aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels in the rats' serum and centrilobular necrosis in liver tissue. In addition, APAP significantly decreased the rats' glutathione levels and mitochondrial aconitase activity, but increased superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation levels. Oral sesame oil (8 mL/kg, given at 24 hours) reversed all APAP-altered parameters and protected the rats against APAP-induced acute liver injury.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that sesame oil acts as a useful agent that maintains intracellular glutathione levels and inhibits reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting rats against after the onset of APAP-induced acute oxidative liver injury.
Chandrasekaran
Victor Raj Mohan
VR
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chien
Se-Ping
SP
Hsu
Dur-Zong
DZ
Chang
Yu-Chung
YC
Liu
Ming-Yie
MY
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000097:blood; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031685:Sesamum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000975:Antioxidants; D013481:Superoxides; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D000082:Acetaminophen; D012715:Sesame Oil; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase; D005978:Glutathione