title: Antioxidative and Protective Actions of Apigenin in a Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity Rat Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apigenin is known to have various pharmacological properties without causing significant toxicity; however, hepatoprotective effect of apigenin is not often reported. The aim of our study was to investigate if the alterations in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status are in favor to prove the efficacy of apigenin against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of apigenin on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was examined by determining biochemical parameters, histological assessment and oxidative status in liver homogenates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment of animals with both apigenin and paracetamol attenuates the parameters of hepatotoxicity, especially for ALT and ALP activity which was significantly lower compared to groups of animals treated with saline and paracetamol. Hepatotoxicity induced by toxic dose of paracetamol was revealed also by notable histopathological alterations, which were not observed in the group treated with paracetamol together with apigenin. Apigenin also prevented paracetamol-induced increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The activities of both CAT (catalase) and GR (glutathione reductase) enzymes after the toxic dose of paracetamol were significantly increased in the liver homogenates, compared to control group. Apigenin reversed these parameters near to values of control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of our study indicates that apigenin inhibits the level of lipid peroxidation and significantly increases the enzyme antioxidant defense mechanisms in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rašković
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gigov
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Čapo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia. milicakusturica@uns.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paut Kusturica
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milijašević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sunčica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojić-Damjanov
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martić
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D020011:Protective Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D047310:Apigenin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Apigenin; Glutathione Reductase; Liver Homogenate; Paracetamol; Toxic Dose