Acetaminophen-induced Liver Injury: Protective Effect of Laportea aestuans Aqueous Leaf Extract in Experimental Mice Model

Acetaminophen commonly referred to as paracetamol is an analgesic and antipyretic drug commonly available as over the counter  medications. Indiscriminate use of acetaminophen for management of pain and fever causes liver damage. The study evaluated the  hepatoprotective effect of the Laportea aestuans aqueous leaf extract in acetaminophen-treated mice. Group 1: control, Group 2: APAP  treated, Group 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 received 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bw of the extract for 7 days and then treated with 300 mg/kg bw  APAP respectively, Group 8: silymarin group. Biochemical parameters were analyzed. Activities of liver function marker enzymes (gamma- glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate and glutamate dehydrogenases, aspartate, and alanine aminotransferases) were significantly (p< 0.05) lower in the serum of acetaminophen-treated mice pre-administered with the Laportea aestuans aqueous leaf  extract extract when compared to the acetaminophen-treated control mice. Activities of antioxidant enzymes significantly (p<0.05)  increased in groups pre-administered with the extract or silymarin. Histological micrographs also showed that the hepatic architectures  of the preadministered mice were maintained following treatment with APAP. Pre-administration of 100 mg/kg bw of Laportea aestuans  aqueous leaf extract gave the best protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Findings from this study showed that L.  aestuans leaf extract evidently protects mice against acetaminophen-induced liver injury, exhibiting antioxidant and hepatoprotective  properties. This study supports the ethnobotanical use of L. aestuans for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.