Effect of Asparagus falcatus on acetaminophen toxicity in mice: a comparison of antioxidative effect with N-acetyl cysteine.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the effect of Asparagus falcatus extract on acetaminophen-induced liver injury was investigated in vivo.

METHODS

Six arms of study. ICR mice (n = 20) were treated with acetaminophen at a single dose of 300 mg/kg (in saline, after a 16-hr fast) to induce hepatotoxicity. Drug control group and pre- and posttreated groups were administered 0.9 g/kg of Asparagus falcatus orally. Serum ALT, AST, ALP, liver GSH, antioxidant enzymes, GPx (glutathione peroxidase), GR (glutathione reductase), GST (glutathione-S-transferase), and liver/serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were estimated. Liver damage was also assessed histopathologically. The effect of the plant extract was compared with N-acetyl cysteine.

RESULTS

Acetaminophen produced liver damage, as manifested by a significant rise (P <. 001, one-way ANOVA) in serum ALT, AST, and ALP, and a reduction (P <. 001) in the liver reduced glutathione (GSH) as compared to respective controls. All enzyme activities and liver GSH were significantly improved in Asparagus-treated mice, with pretreatment providing better results than posttreatment (P <. 05). Histopathologically, mice pretreated with Asparagus showed no liver necrosis. A significant improvement was observed in antioxidant enzyme activities of GPx, GR, and GST in the Asparagus pretreated group (P <. 05). Mice posttreated with Asparagus showed a significant reduction in MDA formation (P <. 05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the feeding regimen with Asparagus extract inhibited the progression of hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen.