Hepatoprotective effect of Descurainia sophia seed extract against paracetamol-induced oxidative stress and hepatic damage in mice

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Descurainia sophia seed extract on paracetamol-induced oxidative stress and acute liver injury in mice. Methods: Sixty male Swiss albino mice were divided into 6 groups, group I: as control group received NaCl 9%. Group II: as paracetamol group received paracetamol intraperitoneally (i.p.) (500 mg/kg). Groups III to VI as treatment groups received different doses of D. sophia seed extract (T1 = 50, T2 = 100, T3 = 200 and T4 = 300 mg/kg, respectively). Twenty-four hours after the paracetamol administration, the mice were sacrificed under mild anesthesia and their blood samples were collected to estimate serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Their livers were also removed for histopathological examinations. Results: Pretreatment of mice with D. sophia seed extract, significantly prevented the paracetamol induced elevation in the levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP, total bilirubin and MDA (P < 0.05). The results of histopathologic studies were consistent with the above findings. Conclusion: Descurainia sophia seed extract has a protective effect against paracetamol induced oxidative damage and acute hepatotoxicity in mice.