Effects of abelmoschus esculentus seed extract in rats with acute paracetamol-induced liver injury

Background: Acetaminophen (N-asetil-para-amino-fenol, APAP) is one of the most commonly used drugs in childhood. It is a safe drug when used in recommended doses. However, exposure to toxic doses causes centrilobular hepatic necrosis. It is thought that the main mechanism causing hepatotoxicity is oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions that occur after high-dose APAP exposure. Abelmoschus esculentus (AE) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of okra against in rats with acute paracetamol-induced liver injury. Material and Methods: A total of 40 male Winstar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The groups were arranged as control group, APAP group, AE group, AE + APAP group, AE + APAP + NAC group. AE was injected at a dose of 600 mg/kg/day via gavage for 11 days, APAP 1000 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally on the 8th day as a single dose, and NAC 300 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once on the 8th day. Samples taken from rats were analyzed biochemically and histopathologically. AST, ALT, TNF-α, IL-10 and thiol-disulfide levels were analyzed in the samples taken from the serum. Liver samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined microscopically. Results: Biochemically, AST, ALT, IL-10, TNF-α, native thiol, total thiol and disulfide levels were investigated. While statistically significant data were obtained in AST, ALT, IL-10, native thiol and total thiol values, no significant results were found in TNF-α and disulfide levels. Native thiol and total thiol values were found to be higher in the APAP+AE and APAP+AE+NAC groups compared to the APAP group. (P=0.043 and p<0.001, respectively; p=0.028 and p=0.001) AST and ALT values were lower in the APAP+AE group compared to the APAP group (p=0.072, p<0.001 respectively) and in the APAP+AE+NAC group compared to the APAP group. detected (p=0.044, p=0.001, respectively). IL-10 values were found to be statistically significantly higher in the APAP+AE and APAP+AE+NAC groups compared to the APAP group (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively). Histopathological examinations did not yield significant results in terms of focal hepatocyte necrosis (p=0.088) and bile duct hyperplasia (p=0.96). Compared to the APAP group, in the APAP+AE and APAP+AE+NAC groups, the congestion score (p=0.003 and p=0.003, respectively), the cytoplasmic vacuolization score (p=0.01 and p<0.001, respectively), and the sinusoid dilatation score (p=0.001 and p, respectively) =0.003), Kupfer proliferation scores (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively) and inflammation scores (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) were statistically significant. Conclusion: Okra seed showed a protective effect against necroinflammatory liver damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation caused by high APAP exposure. Key words: APAP, okra, oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity