Hepatho-nephroprotective and antioxidant effect of stem bark of Allanblackia gabonensis aqueous extract against acetaminophen-induced liver and kidney disorders in rats

Objective: Allanblackia gabonensis (Guttiferae) is a plant used in traditional medicine to treat some inflammatory diseases. As oxidative stress promotes the development of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepato-nephroprotective and antioxidant effect of aqueous extract of A.gabonensis on APAP-induced liver and kidney damage. Methods: A.gabonensis was given daily per os during 7 days, followed by APAP which was given 2 h after the 6th dose for preventive effect, whereas for curative testing A.gabonensis was administrated 30 min after APAP (2 g/kg). Preventive and curative effects were observed by following biochemical parameters analysis: transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Results: The aqueous extract of A.gabonensis at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg produced significant hepato-nephroprotective activity by reducing the serum effect of MDA while it significantly produced an increase in enzymatic antioxidant activities (SOD and CAT) and non enzymatic antioxidant (GSH) levels. A.gabonensis also showed a significant decrease in transaminase, bilirubin and creatinine in APAP intoxicicated rats at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that aqueous extract of A.gabonensis may possess hepato-nephroprotective activities which can be partly attributed to its antioxidant properties. [J Exp Integr Med 2012; 2(4): 337-344]