Antihepatotoxic effect of Premna spinosa Leaf in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage to Rats by Restoring Hepatic Structure, Functions and Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Premna spinosa L. (Lamiaceae), is a small shrub/tree and applied traditionally in India for different medicinal purposes. The present work screened the antihepatotoxic effect of methanol extract from P. spinosa leaf (MEPS) against acetaminophen-evoked hepatic lesions in rats. Hepatic toxicity was elicited in Wistar albino rats via single oral administration of acetaminophen at the dose of 640 mg/kg body weight. Then MEPS was given to rats at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight orally for 16 consecutive days. Silymarin (200 mg/kg body weight) similarly was employed as reference drug. Hepatoprotective effect was assessed by determination of hepatic functions viz. SGPT, SGOT, ALP, billirubin, total protein; liver oxidative stress biomarkers viz. reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, catalase, superoxide dismutase and histopathological examination of liver. In MEPS treated rats, the foregoing liver functions and oxidative stress parameters were significantly restored, when compared to acetaminophen control. Histopathological study of the liver tissue demonstrated maintenance of normal hepatocellular architecture in MEPS treated rats as compared with acetaminophen control, thus affirming the protective role of MEPS in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. From the current work in can be inferred that, P. spinosa leaf possessed marked antihepatotoxic potential in acetaminophen-invoked hepatic damage in rats by virtue of its preserving liver structure, functions and antioxidant capacity.