Hepatoprotective potential of prosopis farcta beans extracts against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

ABSTRACT

Hepatotoxicity by acetaminophen is the most frequent cause of acute liver failure in many countries. Prosopis farcta beans extract [PFE] has some antioxidant property and may alleviate hepatotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate effects of PFE against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats weighing 220 +/- 30 g were distributed into six groups. Two groups were pretreated with PFE [50 and 75 mg/kg] for 7 days before administration of acetaminophen [600 mg/kg]. Two were given acetaminophen or PFE [50 and 75 mg/kg] alone, and the control received normal saline. One day after acetaminophen, administration blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture to determine liver function enzymes markers; aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase [AST and ALT], cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], high, low, and very low density lipoproteins [LDL and VLDL]. In acetaminophen-treated rat plasma AST [314 +/- 18.54 vs. 126.37 +/- 4.13], ALT [304 +/- 49.24 vs. 187.33 +/- 3.71], cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL were increased by 149, 160, 37, 92, 60, and 94%, respectively. PFE at both doses significantly [P < 0.05] attenuated the above biochemical indices to near normal. Prosopis farcta beans extract [50 and 75 mg/kg] exhibited hepatoprotective activity against APAP