Plantago major treatment enhanced innate antioxidant activity in experimental acetaminophen toxicity

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of Plantago major (P. major) extract on the liver injury following acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity.MethodsThe male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 38) were randomly divided into normal control (n = 6) and experiment (n = 32) groups. The latter was subdivided into four groups and induced with APAP (1 000 mg/kg) per oral, followed by P. major extract and N-acetylcysteine orally to the respective groups for six days.ResultsOn the seventh day, the serum bilirubin, liver enzymes and tissue malondialdehyde were increased in APAP groups whereas the total protein in serum, tissue superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were reduced. The plant extract treatment reduced the histological deteriorations such as aggregation of hepatocellular cords, formation of binucleated cells and vacuolisation of the cells with scanty cytoplasm. It also revealed significant reduction of malondialdehyde and increased level of superoxide dismutase and glutathione. The findings in the extract treated groups were comparable to the group treated with N-acetylcysteine.ConclusionsIn conclusion, P. major can enhance innate antioxidant activity and ameliorate the APAP-induced liver injury.