Evaluation of the protective potential of Ambrosia maritima extract on acetaminophen-induced liver damage

The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous-methanolic extract of Ambrosia maritima was investigated against acetaminophen (paracetamol, 4-hydroxy acetanilide) induced hepatic damage. Acetaminophen at the dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant (P<0.001) rise in serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to 1178.5±118.05; 607.5±32.6 and 274.16±8.89 IU/l (n=10), respectively, compared with respective control values of 97.83±3.23; 46.0±3.92 and 168.67±7.86 IU/l. Pretreatment of rats with the plant extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) lowered significantly (P<0.001) the respective serum AST to 203.3±5.74 and 157.1±8.78 IU/l, ALT to 138.67±7.7 and 87.5±3.6 IU/l and ALP levels to 238.0±5.89 and 206.5±7.5 IU/l, respectively. Treatment of rats with acetaminophen led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) (42%). This was associated with a significant reduction of the hepatic antioxidant system e.g. reduced glutathione (GSH) (65%), glutathione reductase (GSH-R) (35%), total glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (32%) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (16%). These biochemical alterations resulting from acetaminophen administration were inhibited by pretreatment with A. maritima L. extract. These data suggest that the plant A. maritima L. may act as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.