Preventive and curative effects of Berberis aristata Fruit extract on paracetamol- and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity |
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Authors: | Anwar-Ul Hassan Gilani Khalid Hussain Janbaz |
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Abstract: | The effect of an aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis aristata fruits (Berberidaceae) was investigated against paracetamol- and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Paracetamol produced 100% mortality at a dose of 1 g/kg in mice while pre-treatment of animals with crude extract (500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 10%. Pre-treatment of rats with fruit extract (500 mg/kg, orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented (p<0.05) the paracetamol (640 mg/kg) as well as CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg)-induced rise in serum transaminases (GOT and GPT). Post-treatment with three successive doses of extract (500 mg/kg, 6h) restricted the hepatic damage induced by acetaminophen (p<0.01) but CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was not altered (p>0.05). Plant extract (500 mg/kg) caused significant prolongation (p<0.01) in pentobarbital (75 mg/kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice suggestive of inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes (MDME). These results indicate that the crude extract of Berberis aristata fruits exhibits hepatoprotective action partly through MDME inhibitory action. |
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Keywords: | Berberis aristata fruits antihepatotoxic paracetamol CCl4 GOT GPT |
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