EVALUATION OF THE PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF ARTEMISIA-MARITIMA EXTRACT ON ACETAMINOPHEN-INDUCED AND CCL4-INDUCED LIVER-DAMAGE

The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous-methanolic extract of Artemisia maritima was investigated against acetaminophen (paracetamol, 4-hydroxy acetanilide)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality at the dose of 1 g/kg in mice, while pretreatment of animals with the plant extract (500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 20%. Acetaminophen at the dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant (P < 0.001) rise in serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) to 1529 +/- 172 I.U./l and 904 +/- 116 I.U./l (n = 10), respectively, compared to respective control values of 87 +/- 12 I.U./l and 31 +/- 5 I.U./l. Pretreatment of rats with the plant extract (500 mg/kg) lowered significantly (P < 0.001) the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 112 +/- 10 I.U./l and 47 +/- 11 I.U./l. similarly, a hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, orally) raised significantly (P < 0.001) the serum GOT and GPT levels to 463 +/- 122 I.U./l and 366 +/- 58 I.U./l (n = 10), respectively, compared to respective control values of 92 +/- 18 I.U./l and 35 +/- 9 I.U./l. The same dose of plant extract (500 mg/kg) was able to prevent significantly (P < 0.001) the CCl4-induced rise in serum transaminases and the estimated values of GOT and GPT were 105 +/- 29 I.U./l and 53 +/- 17 I.U./l, respectively. Moreover, it prevented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time confirming hepatoprotectivity and validates the traditional use of this plant against liver damage.