To Evaluate Hepatoprotective Activity of Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil on a Chronic Acetaminophen-induced Liver Injury Animal Model
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Hu, Fang-Ching
Abstract
According to the 2008 report of Department of Health of Taiwan, liver cancer is the second of ten leading cancer deaths, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is the seventh of ten leading causes. Therefore hepatoprotective issue is very important in Taiwan. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a mild nonnarcotic, analgesic and antipyretic agent, and is effective and safe when consumed as recommended (1-4 g per day). However, APAP overdose will undergo oxidative conversion by Phase I reactions to the toxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoemine (NAPQI) and may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. Ocimum gratissimum L. (OG; tree-basil) is an aromatic plant and has been used as a folk medicine in the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis in Taiwan. In this study, the applicable animal model by the comparison of SD rats and Balb/c mice was evaluated. Moreover, the hepatoprotective effects of OG essential oil at various concentrations on the serum and liver enzymes, hepatic inflammation, and pathological changes in APAP-intoxicated Balb/c mice were investigated. The experimental results showed that in acute liver injury, OG oil treatment decreased 600 mg/kg bw APAP-induced liver injury. The chronic liver injury results indicated that administration of 400 mg APAP/kg bw increased the aspartate transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT) levels in mice serum along with the enhancement of hepatic lipid peroxidation. APAP also reduced antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GRd, SOD and CAT) and glutathione (GSH) level in the liver. Treatment with the 2 mg OG oil/kg bw significantly reversed these changes (p < 0.05). Besides, histopathological examination also revealed the protective nature of OG oil against APAP-induced necrotic change in the liver. The major compound of OG oil is eugenol. However, the treatment with eugenol had less hepatoprotective effects on APAP-induced liver damage compared with OG oil. The results suggest that the OG oil protects hepatic tissues against oxidative damages and can be used as an effective protector against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
Subjects
acetaminophen
animal model
Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil
antioxidant enzymes
eugenol
liver damage
SDGs
Type
thesis
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