Protective Role of Protocatechuic Acid in Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Injury in Mice

AuthorZahra Mousavien
AuthorMohammad Javad Khodayaren
AuthorMohammad Hossein Bazleen
AuthorMohammad Reza Abyazen
AuthorNooshin Asadmasjedien
OrcidZahra Mousavi [0000-0001-6524-491X]en
OrcidMohammad Javad Khodayar [0000-0001-9518-1286]en
OrcidMohammad Hossein Bazle [0009-0004-2415-0991]en
OrcidMohammad Reza Abyaz [0000-0002-6138-2554]en
OrcidNooshin Asadmasjedi [0000-0002-1711-9142]en
Issued Date2025-12-31en
AbstractBackground: Acetaminophen (APAP) is considered safe for relieving fever and pain at therapeutic doses. However, APAP toxicity is among the most common causes of acute liver injury. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA), an antioxidant, against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Methods: Male ICR mice were administered PCA at doses of 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg for 7 days, followed 1 hour later by APAP at 300 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after APAP administration, the animals were sacrificed; livers were dissected, and blood samples were collected to assess liver function. Results: APAP overdose (300 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) induced acute liver injury in mice, as evidenced by increased serum liver function markers, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), pathological changes, and reduced antioxidant defense. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, increased, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), decreased in mice. In contrast, PCA pretreatment reduced MDA, ALT, and AST levels, markedly attenuated liver histological damage, and improved antioxidant enzyme activities. Conclusions: PCA exerted protective effects against APAP-induced liver damage in mice.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.69107/jai-170467en
URIhttps://brieflands.com/journals/jai/articles/170467en
KeywordProtocatechuic Aciden
KeywordAcetaminophenen
KeywordHepatotoxicityen
KeywordMiceen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitleProtective Role of Protocatechuic Acid in Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Injury in Miceen
TypeResearch Articleen

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