Hepatoprotective role of green tea extract in acetaminophen induced liver injury in mice

Abstract

the world. Overdose of APAP is linked to many cases of hepatic failure and death in many countries. APAP is also used as a model toxin to understand the hepatoprotective activities of many pharmacological compounds. In the present study, the protective efficacy of green tea extracts (GTE) in APAP induced liver injury has been evaluated in mice. Mice were treated with 400 mgkgâ€1 body weight of APAP alone or with GTE (50 & 100 mgkgâ€1). Serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Glutathione reduced (GSH), Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitrite level in liver tissues were estimated 6 hrs after APAP and GTE treatment. GTE was shown to be efficient in reducing ALT and AST released from liver hepatocytes up to 50 % when compared to APAP alone treated group. GTE also inhibited production of nitrite and LPO, whereas supplementation with GTE maintained near normal GSH level in liver of APAP treated mice. Histopathological examination of liver samples revealed reduced necrotic areas (47%) in GTE treated APAP group compared to APAP alone treated group. GTE treatment also prevents hepatocytes DNA fragmentation compared to APAP treated group. The survival test conducted confirmed that mice receiving APAP + GTE are more resistant to the deleterious effect of APAP overdose than APAP alone. Together, this study confirmed the hepatoprotective activities of GTE in APAP induced liver injury model in mice and thus illustrated the benefit of continuous consumption of green tea.