Effect of artichoke extracts on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity:A histopathological evaluation

The liver is the most important organ in which the basic metabolic process takes place in human body. While drugs are metabolized in the liver, they can cause liver damage. Additionally, the excretion of toxic metabolites of drugs also cause nephrotoxicity. Acute liver damage or acute hepatotoxicity can cause organ loss and/or death. Herbal extracts have been reported to show protective effects in acute hepatotoxicity models on rats. Therefore, paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity model was used in rats, and ethanolic extracts of various parts of the artichoke plant were administered. Then, their activity on the liver and kidneys was compared with a herbal product (Legalon®) which is an available formulation on the market. Consequently, it has been shown that extracts from the artichoke receptacles and stalks give more effective results on acute hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity than extracts from other parts (receptacle, inner bracts, outer bracts, leaves, and stalk) of artichoke and market preparations.