title: Effect of Asparagus falcatus on acetaminophen toxicity in mice: a comparison of antioxidative effect with N-acetyl cysteine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the effect of Asparagus falcatus extract on acetaminophen-induced liver injury was investigated in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six arms of study. ICR mice (n = 20) were treated with acetaminophen at a single dose of 300 mg/kg (in saline, after a 16-hr fast) to induce hepatotoxicity. Drug control group and pre- and posttreated groups were administered 0.9 g/kg of Asparagus falcatus orally. Serum ALT, AST, ALP, liver GSH, antioxidant enzymes, GPx (glutathione peroxidase), GR (glutathione reductase), GST (glutathione-S-transferase), and liver/serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were estimated. Liver damage was also assessed histopathologically. The effect of the plant extract was compared with N-acetyl cysteine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetaminophen produced liver damage, as manifested by a significant rise (P <. 001, one-way ANOVA) in serum ALT, AST, and ALP, and a reduction (P <. 001) in the liver reduced glutathione (GSH) as compared to respective controls. All enzyme activities and liver GSH were significantly improved in Asparagus-treated mice, with pretreatment providing better results than posttreatment (P <. 05). Histopathologically, mice pretreated with Asparagus showed no liver necrosis. A significant improvement was observed in antioxidant enzyme activities of GPx, GR, and GST in the Asparagus pretreated group (P <. 05). Mice posttreated with Asparagus showed a significant reduction in MDA formation (P <. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the feeding regimen with Asparagus extract inhibited the progression of hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka. ruwaniph@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hewawasam
authors.forename: K A P W
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jayatilaka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pathirana
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027761:Asparagus Plant; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000111:Acetylcysteine