Redox Nanoparticle Therapeutics for Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of an antioxidative nanoparticle (R N P N) recently developed against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The effects of oral administration of R N P N to APAP-treated mice were assessed for various biochemical liver function parameters: alanine transaminase (ALT) activity, aspartate transaminase (AST) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, prothrombin time, and serum albumin (ALB) level. The treatment effects were assessed in terms of free radical parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, % inhibition of superoxide anion (O 2 - ), and histopathological examination. The N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-treated group exhibited an enhanced prothrombin time relative to the control group, while R N P N did not prolong prothrombin time. The R N P N -treated animals exhibited lower levels of ALT, AST, and ALP, while increased ALB levels were measured in these animals compared to those in the other groups. The R N P N -treated animals furthermore exhibited improved MDA levels, GPx activity, and % inhibition of O 2 - , which relate to oxidative damage. Histological staining of liver tissues from R N P N -treated animals did not reveal any microscopic changes relative to the other groups. The findings of this study suggest that R N P N possesses effective hepatoprotective properties and does not exhibit the notable adverse effects associated with NAC treatment.