Evaluation of Antihepatotoxic Effect of Watercress Extract and its Fractions in Rats (original) (raw)

International Journal of Pharmacology, 2010

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress), an edible plant from cruciferous plants and its three fractions were screened for their hepatoprotective effects against acetaminophen induced toxicity in rats. The total parts of plant were extracted with alcohol-water and then sequentially fractionated. The total extract and its three fractions namely; petroleum ether; n -butyl alcohol; and aqueous at two doses (50 and 175 mg kg-1) were administrated to animals every 24 h for five successive days. Rats treated as post treatment with the total extract or three fractions at the dose of 175 mg kg-1 did not show any significance change in activity of aminotransferse enzymes (AST and ALT) compared to control. Acetaminophen caused significant hepatocellular damage and increase in serum levels of AST, ALT and LDH in comparison to control group (p<0.001). Post treatment with the total extract (175 mg kg-1) and aqueous fraction (50 mg kg-1) significantly prevented acetaminophen induced rise in serum levels of AST, ALT and LDH. LD50 value of the petroleum fraction was more than 3823 mg kg-1, while the other two fractions and total extract were non-toxic up to 5734 mg kg-1. Histopathological changes of liver induced by acetaminophen were considerably reversed following treatment by aqueous fraction and total extract of N. officinale . The findings of this study showed that N. officinale may play a protective role against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through maintaining the normal liver functions which further validates the use of N. officinale in Iranian traditional medicine as a hepatoprotective agent.

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