title: Amelioration of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity by methanolic extract of pomegranate peels in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the ameliorating effect by methanolic extract of pomegranate peel in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomised controlled study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2014 at the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised rats that were randomly divided into three equal groups. Control group A was given normal saline (5ml/kg), whereas group B and C were given 750mg/kg acetaminophen intraperitoneally dissolved in normal saline (5ml/kg) on 1st day of experiment. From Day 2 till day 14, group A and B were given distilled water (5ml/kg), while group C was given 50mg/kg methanolic extract of pomegranate peel dissolved in distilled water (5ml/kg) orally. On day 15, blood was collected through cardiac puncture, and livers were removed and processed for histological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 24 rats weighing 175±25gm each. Each group had 8(33.3%) rats. Mean liver aspartate aminotransferase at the end of the experiment in groups A, B and C were 97.88±19.45, 148.25±16.48 and 96.13±17.95U/L, while alanine transaminase levels were 51.50±15.38, 96.75±10.91 and 49.63±12.08 U/L (p<0.05 each) On histological examination of group B, the normal hepatic architecture was distorted with loss of classically arranged hepatic cords. Vascular congestion was present with centrilobular necrosis, marked by pyknotic nuclei and vacuoles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acetaminophen is hepatotoxic and methanolic extract of pomegranate peel ameliorated the hepatic picture probably because of its antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: M. Phil Research Scholar, , University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, , University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Khalid Perwez
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lone
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D029561:Lythraceae; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000082:Acetaminophen; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Acetaminophen, Pomegranate peel, Hepatotoxicity.