Protective and therapeutic effects of fumaria afficinalis aqueous extract against acetaminophen- induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats

Hepatoprotective effects of plants with antioxidant properties have been demonstrated. Considering the importance of drug-induced hepatotoxicity as a major cause of liver damage, present study carried out to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of Fumaria afficinalis extract against hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen in rats. 35 adult male Wistar Albino rats randomly were divided into 7 groups: (1) healthy control, (2) positive control rats [intraperitoneally injection of acetaminophen (150 mg/kg)], (3) hepatotoxic rats treated with silybum marianum (100 mg/kg) once daily, (4) and (5) hepatotoxic rats treated with Fumaria aqueous extract once daily at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively for 2 weeks at the time of acetaminophen injection, (6) and (7) protective experimental rats that treated with aqueous extract of Fumaria once daily at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, before drug injection. For groups 6 and 7, after 2 weeks of oral treatment, acetaminophen was injected and treatment continued for 2 weeks. At the end of treatment period serum level of functional liver markers (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH), lipid profile, malondialdehyde and total antioxicant capacity were measured. The data was analyzed by one way ANOVA test. Fumaria reduced the elevated liver enzymes levels and also improved lipid profile. Furthermore this plant reduced lipid peroxidation and increased total antioxidant capacity. Protective effects of Fumaria in prevention groups were notable compared with therapeutic groups. Our results demonstrated that Fumaria have protective and therapeutic effect on experimentally acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. This protective effect might be due to various flavonoids in different plants and it should be considered when designing new drugs for liver toxicity treatment.