HEPATOTOXICITY EFFECTS OF PARACETAMOL-DENIK CLEANSER® CO-ADMINISTRATION

Cecilia Nwadiuto Obasi; Leyiga Justice Maagbo; Mgbahurike Augustina Amaka

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v7i6.869

Cecilia Nwadiuto Obasi Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Leyiga Justice Maagbo Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Mgbahurike Augustina Amaka Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

10.22270/ujpr.v7i6.869

Keywords:

paracetamol, Denik cleanser, herb-drug interaction, hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Aim and Objective: The concurrent use of herbal products with orthodox medicine is on the rise with the risk of herb-drug interaction that could be beneficial or harmful to the body. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an anti-pyretic and analgesic drug metabolized by CYP2E1 to give the major hepatotoxin, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Denik cleanser^â is an oral herbal preparation from plants part of Occimum grattissimum, Colocynthis citrullus, Khaya ivorensi. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatotoxic effects triggered by Denik^â and paracetamol co-administration in rats. The study sought to mimic conventional usage of Denik cleanser^â followed by ingestion of paracetamol, a likely scenario given the popularity of both compounds.

Method: Twenty animals were randomly assigned to four groups, the first group (control) received 0.3 mL distilled water, 2nd group received paracetamol 100 mg/kg, 3^rd group received Denik cleanser^â2 mL/kg while the 4th group received both paracetamol and Denik cleanser^â at 100 mg/kg and 2 mL/kg daily for 3 days after which biochemical and histological analysis were carried out.

Results: From histological analysis revealed that rats that received Denik^â-only and Denik^â/paracetamol (concomitantly) showed markedly distorted liver architecture compared to control indicating toxicity. Similarly, the biochemical analysis results showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in AST and ALT for the Denik^â/paracetamol group compared to the control group indicating a hepatotoxic event. A non-significant increase in ALP and GGT were also observed in the Denik cleanser^â + paracetamol group. Enhanced metabolism of paracetamol by Denik cleanserâ to NAPQI (hepatotoxic metabolite) is indicated as possible mechanism.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated the in vivo potential for a herb/drug interaction involving paracetamol and Denik cleanser^â resulting in liver injury.Therefore, caution is strongly advised against its casual, non-medically supervised usage.