beneficial effect of trifolium flower extracts on paracetamol- intoxicated male rats

ABSTRACT

Acetaminophen known as paracetamol [P] overdose can cause severe hepatotoxicity and even liver failure and hepatic centrilobular necrosis in experimental animals and humans. The male rats [n=36] were allocated into 6 groups [each group n=6 rats]. Group I was kept as control. All animals in groups II-VI were given paracetamol at 2 g /kg bw by gastric gavage on days 3 post Trifolium alixanderanum [T alixanderanum] flower extracts [TEs] or N-acetylcystiene [NAC] treatments. Group III, IV and V were treated for three days by hexane extract [THE + P], ethanol extract [TEE + P] and water extract [TWE + P]. Group VI received 100 mg/kg bw of antidote N-acetylcystiene [NAC + P]. Paracetamol induced a significant rise in Liver weight and hepatosomatic index, serum aspartate amino transferase [ASAT], alanine amino transferase [ALAT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin [T bili], liver lipid peroxides [MDA+ 4-HDNE] with a reduction of liver glutathione [GSH], glutathione peroxidase [GSHpx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] enzymes activities. The plant extracts showed a remarkable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels in liver tissues. The present investigation indicated that paracetamol damaged liver cells and TEs prevented this damage when compared with control group. Trifolium flower hexane extract was the most effective superior to TEE, TWE and NAC