PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ACORUS CALAMUS RHIZOME IN PARACETAMOL EXPOSURE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS: BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

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