title: Aloe vera attenuated liver injury in mice with acetaminophen-induced hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An overdose of the acetaminophen causes liver injury. This study aims to examine the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe vera in mice with acetaminophen induced hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 each). Control group were given orally distilled water (DW). APAP group were given orally N-acetyl-P-aminophenol (APAP) 400 mg/kg suspended in DW. Aloe vera-treated group were given orally APAP and Aloe vera (150 mg/kg) suspended in DW. Twenty-four hours later, the liver was removed to determine hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic glutathione (GSH), the number of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 positive stained cells (%) by immunohistochemistry method, and histopathological examination. Then, the serum was collected to determine transaminase (ALT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In APAP group, ALT, hepatic MDA and the number of IL-12 and IL-18 positive stained cells were significantly increased when compared to control group (1210.50 ± 533.86 vs 85.28 ± 28.27 U/L, 3.60 ± 1.50 vs 1.38 ± 0.15 nmol/mg protein, 12.18 ± 1.10 vs 1.84 ± 1.29%, and 13.26 ± 0.90 vs 2.54 ± 1.29%, P = 0.000, respectively), whereas hepatic GSH was significantly decreased when compared to control group (5.98 ± 0.30 vs 11.65 ± 0.43 nmol/mg protein, P = 0.000). The mean level of ALT, hepatic MDA, the number of IL-12 and IL-18 positive stained cells, and hepatic GSH in Aloe vera-treated group were improved as compared with APAP group (606.38 ± 495.45 vs 1210.50 ± 533.86 U/L, P = 0.024; 1.49 ± 0.64 vs 3.60 ± 1.50 nmol/mg protein, P = 0.001; 5.56 ± 1.25 vs 12.18 ± 1.10%, P = 0.000; 6.23 ± 0.94 vs 13.26 ± 0.90%, P = 0.000; and 10.02 ± 0.20 vs 5.98 ± 0.30 nmol/mg protein, P = 0.000, respectively). Moreover, in the APAP group, the liver showed extensive hemorrhagic hepatic necrosis at all zones while in Aloe vera-treated group, the liver architecture was improved histopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APAP overdose can cause liver injury. Our result indicate that Aloe vera attenuate APAP-induced hepatitis through the improvement of liver histopathology by decreased oxidative stress, reduced liver injury, and restored hepatic GSH.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. dr.duangporn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Werawatganon
authors.forename: Sittikorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linlawan
authors.forename: Kessarin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thanapirom
authors.forename: Kanjana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Somanawat
authors.forename: Naruemon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klaikeaw
authors.forename: Rungsun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rerknimitr
authors.forename: Prasong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siriviriyakul
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018664:Interleukin-12; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000637:Transaminases; D005978:Glutathione