Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology Volume: 10; Number 1; Year 2015 Cite this article as: Aftab-Ullah, Ahmad M, Ahmad T, Naseer F. Hepatoprotective activity of Sonchus asper in paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in rabbits. Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2015; 10: 115 Hepatoprotective activity of Sonchus asper in paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in rabbits Sir, Hepatoprotective activity of Sonchus asper against car- bon tetrachloride-induced injuries in male rats was reported (Khan et al., 2012). We conducted this study to confirm the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous me- thanolic extract of S. asper in rabbits against paraceta- mol-induced hepatotoxicity. The whole plant was collected from Bhawalpur, Pakistan and evaluated its 8 days in vivo activity. Rabbits were divided into 5 groups (2 per group) for acute toxicity study. Group 1 receive none whereas Group 2-5 received extract in different doses and the mortality rate was observed for 24 hours. The highest dose did not kill any rabbit. For hepato- toxicity, rabbits were divided into 5 groups (10 per group). Group I received none whereas Group II was negative control (paracetamol 2 g/kg/day in divided doses i.e. 400 mg/kg at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours), Group III: standard control (silymarin 100 mg/kg/day p.o.), Group IV received 500 mg/kg/day, Group V received 750 mg/kg/day. Paracetamol was administered after 30 min of extract on 7th day to all groups except I (Arshad et al., 2010). After 24 hours rabbits were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected (Ahmad and Eram, 2011). Biochemical parameters had depicted those alterations (Table I). Histopathological studies also supported them. When paracetamol is administered in lethal doses it blocks the glutathione production and its binding to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, then extra free paracetamol metabolite binds to cellular proteins and cause hepatocellular damage and elevation in serum enzymes (He and Aoyama, 2003). Extract in 500 and 750 mg/kg had restored these levels significantly due to the presence of phyto constituents like saponins, tannic acid, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins (Hussain et al., 2010). Flavonoids block lipid peroxidation and proanthocyanidins increases the stability of cell mem- brane due to their high antioxidant activity (Balasun- dram et al., 2000). In conclusion: aqueous methanolic extract of S. asper has potent hepatoprotective activity upon paracetamol hepatic damage more appropriately at a dose of 750 mg/kg. Aftab-Ullah1, Mahmood Ahmad1, Taseer Ahmad2 and Faiza Naseer3 1Faculty of Pharmacy, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 2Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacy, Govt. College, University Faisalabad, Pakistan. Corresponding author: drtasir2011@gmail.com References Ahmad M, Eram S. Hepatoprotective studies on Haloxylon salicornicum: A plant from cholistan desert. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2011; 24: 377-82. Arshad AN, Kausar M and Savita DP. Hepatoprotective effect of Cocculus hirsutus against carbon etrachloride induced liver damage in albino Wistar rats. J Pharmacol Toxicol. 2010; 1: 1-7. Balasundram N, Sundram K and Samman S. Phenolic com- pounds in plants and agro industrial byproducts: Antioxi- dant activity, occurrence, and potential uses. Food Chem 2000; 99: 191-203. He G, Aoyama Y. Effects of adding some dietary fibers to cystine diet on activities of liver antioxidant enzymes and serum enzymes in rats. Biosci Biotech Biochem. 2003; 67: 617 -21. Hussain K, Nisar MF, Majeed A, Nawaz K, Bhatti KH. Ethno- medicinal survey for important plants of Jalalpur Jattan, District, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Ethnobot Leaflets. 2010; 14: 807-25. Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S, Shah NA. Hepatoprotective activity of Sonchus asper against carbon tetrachloride-indu- ced injuries in male rats: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Compl Alternative Med. 2012; 12: 90. A Journal of the Bangladesh Pharmacological Society (BDPS) Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2015; 10: 115 Journal homepage: www.banglajol.info Abstracted/indexed in Academic Search Complete, Agroforestry Abstracts, Asia Journals Online, Bangladesh Journals Online, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews, CAB Abstracts, Current Abstracts, Directory of Open Access Journals, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Google Scholar, HINARI (WHO), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Open J-gate, Science Citation Index Expanded, SCOPUS and Social Sciences Citation Index ISSN: 1991-0088; DOI: 10.3329/bjp.v10i1.20620 Letter to the Editor Table I: Biochemical parameters after Sonchus asper administration Groups ALT (IU/L) AST (IU/L) Alkaline phos- phatase (IU/L) Total bilirubin (mg/dL) Liver damage Normal control 65.3 ± 2.9 49.2 ± 1.8 218.1 ± 3.7 0.7 ± 0.1 0 Negative control 362.5 ± 5.4 355 ± 5.1 335.3 ± 6.2 1.4 ± 0.0 3 Standard control (silymarin) 186.0 ± 4.4 232.3 ± 3.4 200.3 ± 4.3 0.8 ± 0.0 1 Extract (500 mg/kg) plus paracetamol 244.9 ± 4.4 253.8 ± 5.2 256.1 ± 4.6 1.2 ± 0.0 1 Extract (750 mg/kg) plus paracetamol 191.8 ± 3.8 201 ± 5.4 207.4 ± 6.4 0.9 ± 0.0 1 Values are represented as Mean ± S.E.M. (n=10). 0 = Normal, +1 = Mild, +2 = Moderate and +3 = Severe