In the last years there appeared many articles about the adverse influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the liver and heart. This study is concerned with the influence of the duration of treatment with diclofenac and ketoprofen on the macroscopic and microscopic changes in the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys in rats. Experiments were carried out on mature Wistar strain rats. Animals of test groups received diclofenac and ketoprofen in a dose of8 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the therapeutic dose for man) during 7 per os (p.o.) or 28 days intraperitoneally (i.p.), whereas controls received physiological solution p.o. A high morbidity was observed in the animals receiving diclofenac p.o. and somewhat lower in those treated with ketoprofen. On the other hand, the rats got through the 28-day i.p. treatment with both drugs mainly without significant complications. Macroscopic examinations revealed some changes in treated rats: distension of the stomach, ascites, fibrin deposits on the internal organs, lung effusion and the changes in color and structure of the liver. These changes were more frequent in the group of rats receiving diclofenac for the 7 days compared with those that received ketoprofen for the same time. It may be thought that the high mortality and macroscopic changes in the internal organs of experimental animals are a consequence of the microscopic changes in the liver and its lowered function.

Celery (Apium graveolens) and parsley (Petroselinum sativum), plants used worldwide in human nutrition, are the natural sources of methoxsalen. In this study we investigated the effect of mice pretreatment with juices of this plants on the hypnotic action of pentobarbital and analgesic action of paracetamol and aminopyrine, the drugs involving cytochrome P450 superfamily in their metabolism. In mice pretreated with celery and parsley juices a prolonged action of pentobarbital with respect to control was observed, statistical significance being attained only with parsley-pretreated animals. Both pretreatments increased and prolonged the analgesic action of aminopyrine and paracetamol, pretreatment with parsley being again more effective. Celery and parsley juices given to animals two hours before their decapitation caused a significant decrease of cytochrome P450 in the liver homogenate as compared to control.

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The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity of different extracts of leaves and root of parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A.W. Hill, Apiaceae) were studied. Free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was evaluated measuring the scavenging activity on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and OH radicals. Also, the effects on lipid peroxidation (LP) were evaluated. The results obtained showed that all examined extracts act as good scavengers of DPPH and OH radicals and reduce the intensity of LP. The in vivo effects were evaluated on some antioxidant systems (activities of LPx, GSH-Px, Px, CAT and XOD, and GSH content) in the mice liver and blood after treatment with the examined parsley extracts, or in combination with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). On the basis of the results obtained it can be concluded that the examined extracts exhibited a certain protective effect. However, combined treatments with CCl(4) and the examined extracts showed both positive and negative synergism, inducing or suppressing the influence of CCl(4) alone.

In this study the effects of an aqueous suspension of a commercial preparation of the mushroom Coprinus comatus on oxidative stress induced in rats by alloxane and carbon tetrachloride was examined. The effects were estimated from changes in the biochemical parameters (xanthine oxidase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity, reduced glutathione content, and extent of lipid peroxidation) of liver homogenate as well as histological changes in the liver of the rats treated with alloxane and carbon tetrachloride. Two screening doses of alloxane sufficient to induce diabetes in rats did not have any significant effect on the examined biochemical parameters of liver homogenate or on the cytoarchitectonics of liver cross-sections. Treatment with carbon tetrachloride resulted in a significant increase in the intensity of lipid peroxidation and peroxydasis activity, as well as with decrease in catalase activity. Certain changes in liver cross sections were detected, such is lymphocyte infiltration of dilated sinusoid capillaries. Administration of Coprinus comatus suspension thus showed antioxidative potential, evidenced by an increase of antioxidative status of liver homogenate and prevention of histological changes in liver cross sections.