Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) enhances detoxification of hepatic and macromolecular oxidants in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats

Oxidative stress is a common pathological condition associated with drug-induced hepatotoxicity. this study investigated spondias mombin l. aqueous leaf extract on reactive oxygen species and acetaminophen-mediated oxidative onslaught in rats' hepatocytes. hepatotoxic rats were orally administered with the extract and vitamin c for 4 weeks. the extract dose-dependently scavenged dpph,hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals,with ic50 values of 0.13,0.66,and 0.64 mg/ml,and corresponding % inhibitions of 89,80,and 90%,respectively at 1.0 mg/ml. ferric ion was also significantly reduced. the marked (p<0.05) increases in the activities of alkaline phosphatase,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced following treatment with the extract. the extract also significantly (p<0.05) induced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. these inductions reversed the acetaminophen-enhanced reduction in the specific activities of these enzymes as well as attenuated the observed elevated concentrations of autooxidized products and rived dna in the acetaminophen-intoxicated animals. the observed effects competed with those of vitamin c and are suggestive of hepatoprotective and antioxidative attributes of the extract. overall,the data from the present findings suggest that s. mombin aqueous leaf extract is capable of ameliorating acetaminophen-mediated oxidative hepatic damage via enhancement of antioxidant defense systems.