Hepatoprotective effect of Prunus armeniaca L. (Apricot) leaf extracts on Paracetamol induced liver damage in Wistar rats

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Prunus armeniaca L. (Apricot) leaf on paracetamol induced liver toxicity in rats. Method: Phytochemical investigation was performed to find active constituents of the plant extracts by the different phytochemical tests. After induction of liver toxicity, the biochemical parameters such as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase (sALP), serum bilirubin (SB), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), albumin. The physical parameters including liver weight, body weight and histopathological changes in the liver were studied with Ursodeoxycholic acid as standard hepatoprotective agents. Results: The phytochemical investigation of the extracts showed the presence of Alkaloids, volatile oil, saponin glycosides, condensed tanins, terpenoids, steroids and flavonoids. Methanol and aqueous extract before the paracetamol administration caused a significant reduction in the values of sGOT, sGPT, sALP, TBARS, GGT, LDH TP, Albumin and sB (P<0.01) almost comparable to the Ursodeoxycholic acid. The hepatoprotective activity was confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver tissue of control and treated animals. Conclusions: The result concludes that Prunus armeniaca L. possesses the hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol induced liver toxicity in rats.