Assessment of the protective potential of Premna tomentosa (L. Verbenaceae) extract on lipid profile and lipid-metabolizing enzymes in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats.

OBJECTIVE

The liver is often damaged by environmental toxins, poor eating habits, alcohol and over-the-counter drug use that damage and weaken the liver, leading to important public health problems such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver diseases. It is cardinal to treat liver disorders, because it affects the biochemistry of the cell directly. Damage to the liver can be prevented by including a balanced diet that includes nutrients and herbs that support a healthy liver. Premna tomentosa (PT) is one such herbal drug used widely in India for the treatment of liver disorders, and we have already reported the hepatoprotective potential and antioxidant property of methanolic extract of PT leaves. Because injury to the liver can promote a variety of reactions with consequent effect on lipids, the present study was designed to elucidate the hypolipidemic effect of PT extract in acetaminophen (AA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

METHODS

Animals were pretreated with PT extract (750 mg/kg, orally) for 15 days and then induced with hepatotoxicity by AA (640 mg/kg, intraperitoneally).

RESULTS

PT extract pretreatment significantly inhibited induced alterations in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, serum lipoproteins, and lipid-metabolizing enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that PT extract improves lipid metabolism and has the potential for use in hepatic disorders.