PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE EFFECTS OF ARTEMISIA-ABSINTHIUM ON ACETAMINOPHEN AND CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

1. Effect of aqueous-methanolic extract of Artemisia absinthium (Compo sitae) was investigated against acetaminophen- and CCl4-induced hepati c damage. 2. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality al the dose of 1 g/ kg in mice while pretreatment of animals with plant extract (500 mg/kg ) reduced the death rate to 20%. 3. Pretreatment of rats with plant ex tract (500 mg/kg, orally twice dairy for two days) prevented (P < 0.01 ) the acetaminophen (640 mg/kg) as well as CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg)-induced ri se in serum transaminases (GOT and GPT). 4. Post-treatment with three successive doses of extract (500 mg/kg, 6 hr) restricted the hepatic d amage induced by acetaminophen (P < 0.01) but CCl4-induced hepatotoxic ity was not altered (P > 0.05). 5. Plant extract (500 mg/kg) caused si gnificant prolongation (P < 0.05) in pentobarbital (75 mg/kg)-induced sleep as well as increased strychnine-induced lethality in mice sugges tive of inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes (MDM E). 6. These results indicate that the crude extract of Artemisia absi nthium exhibits hepatoprotective action partly through MDME inhibitory action and validates the traditional use of plant in hepatic damage.