Protective effect of Asteracantha longifolia extract in mouse liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Asteracantha longifolia Linn (Acanthaceae) plant extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐ and paracetamol‐induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of a single intraperitoneal dose of CCl4 (0.5 mL kg−1 CCl4 in olive oil) in one model and in the other by administration of paracetamol1 (300 mg kg−1 in saline) orally, after a 16‐h fast. An aqueous extract of the whole plant (0.9 g kg−1) was used on a pre‐ and post‐treatment basis. Asteracantha reduced the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level by 69.32% (P < 0.001) and increased the liver reduced glutathione level by 64.65% (P < 0.001) in the pre‐treated group, 4 days after the administration of CCl4. A similar pattern was observed in the pre‐treated group 4 h after the administration of paracetamol with a reduction in serum levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes by 65.04, 55.79 and 45.75% respectively (P < 0.001). Plant extract also increased the glutathione concentration of the liver significantly (P < 0.001). Histopathological studies also provided supportive evidence for results from the biochemical analysis with marked improvement in liver architecture being observed in the Asteracantha‐treated groups. Pre‐treatment showed better results than post‐treatment in both hepatotoxic models. Overall results indicate that the aqueous extract of Asteracantha longifolia possesses hepatoprotective effects on CCl4‐ and paracetamol‐induced hepatotoxicity in mice.