Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Astragalus persicus and Astragalus tournefortii against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats

Our aim was to investigate hepatoprotective effect of A. persicus and A. tournefortii extracts in a rat model of paracetamol (PCM) induced liver damage. PCM induced severe hepatic damage in rats as evidenced by elevated serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and serum level of total bilirubin (BIL). In liver homogenates, PCM elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) but decreased glutathione (GSH) level as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Administration of A. persicus and A. tournefortii extracts for 7 days before PCM inhibited the acute elevation of the serum activities of AST, ALT, ALP and γ-GT enzymes and serum level of BIL. PCM-induced lipid peroxidation was likewise attenuated by both extracts. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, CAT) in the liver homogenates were increased by both extracts, while GSH concentration was reduced. The histopathological results supported the biochemical findings. The results of the in vitro antioxidant effect revealed considerable antioxidant activity for both extracts. It was concluded that A. persicus and A. tournefortii possess hepatoprotective activities that could be partly attributed to their antioxidant effects.

Keywords: Astragalus persicus, Astragalus tournefortii, hepatoprotection, paracetamol, antioxidant