Acute paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats: biochemical and histopathological evaluation and the hepatoprotective effect of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260417010FKeywords:
paracetamol, hepatotoxicity, Silybum marianum, hepatoprotection, oxidative stressAbstract
Paper description:
- This study investigated acute paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats after aqueous infusion of Silybum marianum by an integrated biochemical and histopathological approach.
- A single intraperitoneal dose of paracetamol (450 mg/kg) induced marked liver tissue alterations, including hepatocellular necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and structural disorganization.
- Infusion of marianum partially improved hepatic histoarchitecture and attenuated some biochemical disturbances after paracetamol exposure.
- Histopathological assessment may provide complementary information to serum liver biomarkers in experimental acute hepatotoxicity.
Abstract: Paracetamol administration at hepatotoxic doses represents a widely used experimental model to investigate drug-induced liver injury, causing significant hepatic damage through the generation of reactive metabolites that deplete glutathione and trigger oxidative stress, without necessarily causing mortality. This study evaluated the hepatotoxic effects of acute paracetamol administration and the hepatoprotective potential of Silybum marianum in Wistar rats. Biochemical markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin) and liver histopathology were examined. Paracetamol induced marked histological liver damage, including hepatocellular necrosis and architectural disorganization, with only moderate and inconsistent changes in serum enzyme levels, indicating a dissociation between biochemical markers and structural hepatic injury. S. marianum treatment improved liver histology and partially stabilized biochemical alterations, supporting its hepatoprotective activity through antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing mechanisms. These results show that histopathological examination is a more sensitive indicator of acute hepatic injury than serum transaminases and support the therapeutic potential of S. marianum in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.
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