Abstract
The objective of the present study has been to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Hordeum vulgare Linn. (MEHV) seeds against acetaminophen-induced liver damage in rats. Acetaminopheninduced liver damage was produced by the treatment of acetaminophen (3g/kg/d, p.o.) for three days. Other groups of rats were pretreated with two doses of MEHV seeds (300 and 500 mg/kg/d, p.o) and silymarin (200 mg/kg/d, p.o) 30 min prior to acetaminophen ingestion. Liver damage was evidenced by elevated levels of biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and direct bilirubin (TBL and DBL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased level of total protein (TP) and reduced glutathione (GSH) along with increased histopathological scores in the APAP control. Pretreatments with MEHV seeds produced significant reversal in the above biochemical parameters and reduced histopathological scores of fatty degeneration, necrosis with significant evidence of regeneration. The results of this study indicate that pretreatment with MEHV seeds possessed the signifi cant hepatoprotective activity. In conclusion, the possible mechanism of hepatoprotective action of methanolic extracts of Hordeum vulgare seeds may be due to its antioxidant activity as indicated by protection against increased lipid peroxidation and maintained glutathione contents.