JIST

Abstract

'Paracetamol is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic agent. But the excessive use of paracetamol can damage multiple organs, especially liver and kidney. Paracetamol-induced liver toxicity is more severe in alcoholics.

Solanum trilobatum is a South Indian climbing plant belonging to the family Solanaceae, and is used traditionally in Siddha system of medicine to treat various diseases. The purpose of this study was to find out whether there is any liver protective effect for this plant extract in paracetamol-induced toxicity.

The study was conducted at Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The plant material collected from the tribal region of Tirunelveli wasmtaxonomically identified by the Deptof Botany, Karyavattam University Campus, Thiruvananthapuram. With a soxlet extractor, coarsely powdered plant parts of Solanum trilobatum was extracted using 90% alcohol. Five groups of 6 albino rats each were used for the study. The protective effect of two oral doses of the alcoholic extract of Solanum trilobatum suspended in 0.1% CMC in paracetamol-induced liver toxicity was analysed in comparison with the known liver protective agent silymarin and untreated control group.

The biochemical data were statistically analysed using the Student t test. Histopathology of rat liver and biochemical parameters revealed significant hepatoprotective effect of this extract in paracetamol-induced liver toxicity.