Selective protective effect of an extract from Fumaria parviflora on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity
Document Type
Article
Department
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
1. The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous-methanolic extract of Fumaria parviflora was investigated against paracetamol- and CCI4-induced hepatic damage. 2. Paracetamol (1 g/kg; orally) produced 100% mortality in mice; pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) reduced the death rate to 50%. 3. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg, orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented (P < 0.001) the paracetamol (640 mg/kg)-induced rise in serum enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and transaminases (GOT and GPT), whereas the same dose of the extract was unable to prevent (P > 0.05) the CCI4-induced rise in serum enzyme levels. 4. Posttreatment with 3 successive doses of the extract (500 mg/kg, 6 hourly) also restricted the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. 5. The plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) caused significant prolongation in pentobarbital (75 mg/ kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice (P < 0.05), suggestive of an inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes (MDME). 6. It is conceivable therefore, that Fumaria parviflora extract exhibits a selective protective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, probably mediated through MDME inhibition.
Publication (Name of Journal)
General Pharmacology
Recommended Citation
Gilani, A. H.,
Janbaz, K. H.,
Akhtar, M. S.
(1996). Selective protective effect of an extract from Fumaria parviflora on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. General Pharmacology, 27(6), 979-983.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbs/637