Hepatotoxicity is a major complication of acetaminophen (APAP), widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug. Asparagus racemosus (AR) is an Ayurvedic rasayana, which is used for treatment of different diseases by their active compounds. This study incorporates the protective effect of ethanol fraction of AR roots on acetaminophen induced hepatic toxicity and hepatic damage in rats. This fraction displayed significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity against standard ascorbic acid and contains flavonoids and phenolic compounds in high amount. Ethanol fraction of AR was fed to acetaminophen (500mg/kg body weight) induced hepatotoxicity in rats at different doses. Maximum hepatoprotective effect was shown by AR at the dose of 500mg/kg body weight. The marker enzymes of liver toxicity like ALP, AST, ALT, GOT and GPT levels were increased significantly in case of acetaminophen treated group where these enzyme levels significantly resettled to the normal after AR treatment. Also the haematological parameters like haemoglobin and RBC level were significantly increased after treatment of ethanol fraction of AR at 500mg/kg. Acetaminophen injection resulted decrease in liver GSH content which was restored after treatment of AR. Histological pattern of rat liver subjected to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity revealed degenerative changes of liver tissues where after treatment of AR at high dose improvement and rearrangement of liver cells was prominent. These results indicate that the compounds present in the ethanol fraction of AR possesses hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
