The Role of Allium saralicum Extract on Prevention of Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Failure: an Experimental Study

Abstract

<strong>Background and objectives:</strong> Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common analgesic medicine whose overdose leads to severe hepatic dysfunction. Due to the known antioxidant properties of <em>Allium</em>species, the present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of <em>Allium</em><em> saralicum </em>plant on APAP induced liver toxicity.<strong> Methods:</strong> The hydro-alcoholic extract of <em>A.</em><em> saralicum </em>was prepared by maceration and ultrasonic methods. Forty-two rats in seven groups were treated by gavage as follows: groups 1 and 2 received normal saline, groups 3 received 400 mg/kg of <em>A.</em><em> saralicum </em>hydro-alcoholic extract, and the groups 4-7 were treated with 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of <em>A.</em><em> saralicum </em>extract, respectively. After two consecutive weeks, the therapeutic groups, as well as the positive control (APAP) group, were administered a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg). After 48 hours, the animals were anesthetized, and blood and liver samples were collected for histological and biochemical examinations.<strong>Results:</strong> Our findings indicated that APAP caused a significant rise in ALT (p<0.001), AST (p<0.001), ALP (p<0.001) and LDH (p<0.001) serum levels, total and direct bilirubin (p<0.001), hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO; p<0.001) and nitric oxide (NO; p<0.001). In addition, APAP let to the decreasing of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC; p< 0.001), total thiol molecules (TTM; p<0.001), and structural changes in the hepatic tissue. Following administration of<em>A.</em><em> saralicum </em>extract, a remarkable improvement was observed in the functional and oxidative stress indices of liver tissue alongside histopathologic alterations.<strong> Conclusion:</strong> Our results showed that <em>A.</em><em> saralicum </em>extractsignificantly improved APAP-induced hepatic failure through inhibition of oxidative/nitrosative stress.