Abstract:
Acetaminophen (APAP) is widely used as an analgesic and
antipyretic drug. The large dose of APAP results in severe hepatic necrosis
due to the oxidative stress. This work evaluates the antioxidant activity of
crude water extract of Vetiveria zizanioides roots against a single dose of
APAP induced acute hepatotoxicity. Mice were treated with 300 mg/kg of
APAP dissolved in saline and fasted for 16 h. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC, 500
mg/kg) was used as a positive control. The activities of serum alanine
transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) increased significantly 4 h after APAP administration. Oral
administration of crude water extract of Vetiveria root at a dose of 0.9 g/kg
before or after the oral administration of APAP significantly reduced
(P<0.05) the elevated values of serum ALT, AST, ALP and hepatic
morphologic changes induced in mice. Antioxidant status, reduced
glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase
(GST) were reduced significantly (P<0.05) and the lipid peroxidation and the
activity of GPx were enhanced significantly in the APAP treated group.
Vetiveria root extract markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation, oxidation of
glutathione and enhanced the activities of GR and GST in mouse liver
homogenate (P<0.05). Although, the effects of NAC and Vetiveria root
extracts were comparable in replenishing GSH in APAP toxicity, pre or post-
treatment with Vetiveria showed better effects on GR and GST levels in liver
homogenates. Hepatoprotective effect of the crude water extract of Vetiveria
root against APAP induced acute toxicity may be mediated by preventing the
decline of hepatic antioxidant status.
