Selective protective effect of an extract from Fumaria parviflora on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity

• 1.1. The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous-methanolic extract of Fumaria parviflora was investigated against paracetamol- and CCl₄-induced hepatic damage.
• 2.2. Paracetamol (1 g/kg; orally) produced 100% mortality in mice; pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) reduced the death rate to 50%.
• 3.3. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg, orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented (P<0.001) the paracetamol (640 mg/kg)-induced rise in serum enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and transaminases (GOT and GPT), whereas the same dose of the extract was unable to prevent (P>0.05) the CCl₄-induced rise in serum enzyme levels.
• 4.4. Posttreatment with 3 successive doses of the extract (500 mg/kg, 6 hourly) also restricted the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage.
• 5.5. The plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) caused significant prolongation in pentobarbital (75 mg/ kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice (P<0.05), suggestive of an inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes (MDME).
• 6.6. It is conceivable therefore, that Fumaria parviflora extract exhibits a selective protective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, probably mediated through MDME inhibition.