Protective effect of Artemisia scoparia extract against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

Gen Pharmacol. 1993 Nov;24(6):1455-8. doi: 10.1016/0306-3623(93)90434-y.

Abstract

1. Hepatoprotective activity of hydro-methanolic extract of Artemisia scoparia (Compositae) was investigated against acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage. 2. Acetaminophen at a dose of 1 g/kg produced 100% mortality in mice while pretreatment of animals with plant extract (150 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 20%. 3. Acetaminophen at a dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum levels of GOT and GPT to 1528 +/- 310 and 904 +/- 261 IU/l (n = 10) respectively, compared to respective control values of 80 +/- 11 and 38 +/- 09. 4. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (150 mg/kg) lowered significantly the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 85 +/- 11 and 23 +/- 06. 5. These results indicate that Artemisia scoparia contains hepatoprotective constituents and this study rationalizes the traditional use of this plant in hepatobiliary disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Acetaminophen / toxicity
  • Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / enzymology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / prevention & control*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase