title: Effects of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol-induced brain and liver injury in rats.
abstract: The action of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol injury in rats was examined not only in terms of the classical indicators (e.g., levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma) but also in terms of functional and metabolic parameters (e.g., gluconeogenesis). Considering solely the classical indicators for tissue damage, the results can be regarded as an indication that the A. blazei extract is able to provide a reasonable degree of protection against the paracetamol injury in both the hepatic and brain tissues. The A. blazei pretreatment largely prevented the increased levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma (ASP, ALT, LDH, and ALP) and practically normalized the TBARS levels in both liver and brain tissues. With respect to the functional and metabolic parameters of the liver, however, the extract provided little or no protection. This includes morphological signs of inflammation and the especially important functional parameter gluconeogenesis, which was impaired by paracetamol. Considering these results and the long list of extracts and substances that are said to have hepatoprotective effects, it would be useful to incorporate evaluations of functional parameters into the experimental protocols of studies aiming to attribute or refute effective hepatoprotective actions to natural products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Maringá, 87020900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Anacharis B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sá-Nakanishi
authors.forename: Jurandir F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Comar
authors.forename: Ana P S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.forename: Maria R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gomes da Costa
authors.forename: Adelar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracht
authors.forename: Rosane M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Peralta
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000364:Agaricus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000082:Acetaminophen; D006003:Glycogen; D005947:Glucose; D000409:Alanine