HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDATIVE EFFECTS OF ALLIUM SATIVUM VAR LEHSUN GULABI ON ACETAMINOPHEN INDUCED ACUTE HEPATITIS IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Acute hepatitis results in massive necrosis of liver cells and impairment of liver functions. Acetaminophen toxicity is the most common cause of drug-induced hepatitis. The oxidative metabolite of acetaminophen, NAPQI (N-acetyl-p-benzo-quinone imine) depletes a natural antioxidant Glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to determine the hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of ethanolic extract of Allium sativum var Lehsun gulabi on acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats.

METHODOLOGY:

This Randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out in Physiology department, SIMS, Lahore from August 2015 to February 2017 on 90 male albino rats. A single intraperitoneal dose of acetaminophen 750mg/kg was used to induce oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. The rats were randomly divided into three groups of thirty each. Group A was given normal saline (control); group B was administered hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen (negative control); group C (experimental) was pretreated with Allium sativum Var Lehsun Gulabi extract for 7 days before receiving hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen (Experimental). Serum ALT, AST, ALP, total proteins, albumin and glutathione peroxidase levels in each group were estimated from terminal blood sampling done 24 hours after acetaminophen administration.

RESULTS:

Allium sativum var Lehsun Gulabi manifested hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects by producing highly significant (p=0.000) reduction in serum ALT and AST, and significant (p=0.015) reduction in serum ALP levels. This garlic extract also produced highly significant (p=0.000) increase in serum total proteins, albumin and glutathione peroxidase levels.

CONCLUSION:

Allium sativum var Lehsun Gulabi has potent hepatoprotective and antioxidative potential.