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Hepatoprotective activity of Tribulus terrestris extract against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in a freshwater fish (Oreochromis mossambicus)

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Abstract

The potential protective role of Tribulus terrestris in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Oreochromis mossambicus was investigated. The effect of oral exposure of acetaminophen (500 mg/kg) in O. mossambicus at 24-h duration was evaluated. The plant extract (250 mg/kg) showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. It was judged from the tissue-damaging level and antioxidant levels in liver, gill, muscle and kidney tissues. Further acetaminophen impact induced a significant rise in the tissue-damaging level, and the antioxidant level was discernible from the enzyme activity modulations such as glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamate pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidase and reduced glutathione. The levels of all these enzymes have significantly (p < 0.05) increased in acetaminophen-treated fish tissues. The elevated levels of these enzymes were significantly controlled by the treatment of T. terrestris extract (250 kg/mg). Histopathological changes of liver, gill and muscle samples were compared with respective controls. The results of the present study specify the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of T. terrestris against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in freshwater fish, O. mossambicus.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank UGC-Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, The DST-FIST, UGC-SAP and MoE&F for the Instrumentation facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India

    P. Kavitha, R. Ramesh, G. Bupesh & P. Subramanian

  2. Department of Zoology, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli, 620 020, Tamil Nadu, India

    A. Stalin

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  1. P. Kavitha
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  2. R. Ramesh
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Correspondence to P. Kavitha.

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Kavitha, P., Ramesh, R., Bupesh, G. et al. Hepatoprotective activity of Tribulus terrestris extract against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in a freshwater fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Animal 47, 698–706 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-011-9457-9

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