Determine the Protective Effect of Acorus calamus Rhizome in Paracetamol Exposure Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Background: Hepatic disorders or degeneration remain an important health problem till today as liver is the major organ of biotransformation for xenobiotics. Even so many antioxidant and hepatoprotectives are available, once the degeneration of liver occurred beyond the repair capability results in liver failure and death.

Objective: To study the hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous and alcoholic extract of Acorus calamus rhizomes against the paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by oral administration of paracetamol and chemical parameters such as Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione reductase, Glutathione, Catalase, lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes in liver was studied by comparing with Silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective drug.

Results: Treatment of rats with aqueous and alcoholic extract of Acoruscalamus rhizome after paracetamol administration normalized the altered levels of above parameters which may comparable with Silymarin and Vit-E. The hepatoprotective activity was confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver tissue of control and treated animals.

Conclusion: Based on the result it can be concluded that Acorus calamus rhizome possesses hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The use of Acoruscalamusmay be recommended for lifestyle-related diseases including hepatic diseases and also to improve the general health condition in animals including human beings. Extensive studies in target species should be preceeded before the clinical application of Acoruscalamus as an antioxidant agent.