SELECTIVE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AN EXTRACT FROM FUMARIA-PARVIFLORA ON PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

1. The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous methanolic extract of F umaria par viflora was investigated against paracetamol- and CCl4-indu ced hepatic damage. 2. Paracetamol (1 g/kg; orally) produced 100% mort ality in mice; pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/ kg; orally) reduced the death rate to 50%. 3. Pretreatment of rats wit h plant extract (500 mg/kg, orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented ( P<0.001) the paracetamol (640 mg/kg)-induced rise in serum enzymes alk aline phosphatase (ALP) and transaminases (GOT and GPT), whereas the s ame dose of the extract was unable to prevent (P>0.05) the CCl4-induce d rise in serum enzyme levels. 4. Posttreatment with 3 successive dose s of the extract (500 mg/kg, 6 hourly) also restricted the paracetamol -induced hepatic damage. 5. The plant extract (500 mg/kg; orally) caus ed significant prolongation in pentobarbital (75 mg/kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice (P<0.05), su ggestive of an inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzym es (MDME). 6. It is conceivable therefore, that Fumaria parviflora ext ract exhibits a selective protective effect against paracetamol-induce d hepatotoxicity, probably mediated through MDME inhibition.