The Protective Effects of Garlic Extract Against Acetaminophen-Induced Oxidative Stress and Glutathione Depletion

Abstract

Acetaminophen, the most commonly sold over-the-counter antipyretic analgesic, is capable of causing severe and sometimes fatal hepatic damage in humans and experimental animals. The incidence of liver injury due to acetaminophen overdose, either with suicidal intent or by accident, is increasing. Garlic is among those medicinal plants famous for its different health protective effects. In this study, the protective effects of garlic extract on acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury were investigated using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. The hepatocytes were isolated from Sprague-Dawley male rats by a two step collagenase model. Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Glutathione (GSH) depletion were studied after addition of acetaminophen to cell suspensions. The effects of garlic extract on prevention of ROS formation as well as GSH depletion was investigated and compared with the effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) as the standard treatment. Reactive oxygen species formation was assessed by a spectrofluorometry method and garlic extract was shown to be as effective as NAC in decreasing ROS formation induced by acetaminophen. Glutathione (GSH) levels of hepatocytes were determined using HPLC. Garlic extract was effective in preventing GSH depletion significantly (p < 0.05). It is concluded that garlic extract has an antioxidant effect and can protect hepatocytes from GSH depletion following NAPQI production.

Dual role of acetaminophen in promoting hepatoma cell apoptosis and kidney fibroblast proliferation

“…APAP-induced cytotoxic effects that relate to an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were previously reported (65,66). However, it is still unclear which ROS elements are increased upon APAP treatment.…”

Herbal medicines in Brazil: pharmacokinetic profile and potential herb-drug interactions

“…In order to measure glutathione levels, hepatocytes were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats and incubated with different concentrations of garlic extract at three different times: before, at the same time and 30 min after addition of acetaminophen. The results were collected at different time points (from 0 to 150 min) and it was observed that the intake of garlic extract is able to protect hepatocytes against acetaminophen-induced toxicity by increasing intracellular GSH levels (Anoush et al, 2009). …”

SomeIn Vitro/In VivoChemically-Induced Experimental Models of Liver Oxidative Stress in Rats

“…Reduced glutathione can act as a reductant, reducing hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides directly to H 2 O, a reaction catalyzed by GSH-Px [43]. Depletion of intracellular GSH, under conditions of continuous intracellular oxidative stress, leads to oxidation and damage of lipids, proteins, and DNA by the reactive oxygen species [44, 45].…”