Librado A. Santiago, Joy M. Buccat, Mary Rose T. Domalanta, Anna Beatriz R. Mayor
The hepatoprotective activity of F. pseudopalma was evaluated against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity and was compared with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and Lupeol. Acetaminophen (500mg/kg BW) was induced daily to the rats for seven days and the plant extract (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg), NAC (100mg/kg) and lupeol (10mg/kg) were administered four hours after acetaminophen induction. The liver index, biomarkers of liver damage (ALT, AST, ALP and albumin) and antioxidant enzyme levels were (GSH and catalase) all determined. Histopathological analysis of the liver samples was performed to further assess the protective ability of F. pseudopalma. Following the 7-day oral administration of F. pesudopalma at 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg BW ameliorated the toxic effects brought by the overdose of acetaminophen. The liver enzymes in the sera were normalized, the liver index improved, glutathione and catalase levels restored and lipid peroxides remarkably reduced in the liver homogenate although albumin levels remained unaltered. Histopathological examination indicated an improved condition of the hepatocytes though not completely healed or repaired as result of the 7-day continued acetaminophen-induced injury in the liver. These data suggest that administration of antioxidants such as F. pseudopalma, lupeol and NAC may be important in the repair of damage brought by acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
