Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protective role of N-acetylcysteine against alcohol and paracetamol induced toxicity

Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of administration of N-acetylcysteine on ethanol and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity was studied both biochemically and histopathologically in experimental rats. The liver samples taken after twentyfour hours from the paracetamol administered normal and alcoholic animals showed high degree of necrosis and related pathological changes. In the N-acetylcysteine treated alcoholic rats and in the N-acetylcysteine pretreated paracetamol administered rats, the liver cells showed very little change and appeared almost normal as evidenced by the histopathological studies. The activities of serum transaminases and phosphatases were also high both in the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered animals. N-acetylcysteine treated animals partly restored the serum transaminase and phosphatase activities, and the activities of the antiperoxidative enzymes. There was also significant change in the serum and tissue lipid levels, and in the concentration of the tissue lipid peroxidation product-malondialdehyde in both the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered groups. N-acetylcysteine treatment brought the serum and tissue lipid levels, and the tissue malondialdehyde content towards normal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Prescott, L.F., Park, J., Sutherland, G.R., Smith, I.J. and Proudfoot, A.T. (1976). Lancet 2: 109.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Vale, J.A., Meredith, I.J., Crome, P., Helliwell, M., Volans, G.N., Widdop, B. and Goulding, R. (1979). Br. Med. J. 2; 1435.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tredger, J.M., Smith, H.M., Davis, M. and Williams, R. (1980). Toxicol. Lett. 5: 339.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Buckpitt, A.R., Rollins, D.E. and Mitchell, J.R. (1979) Biochem. Pharmacol. 28: 2941.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Piperno, E. and Bessenbruegge, D.A. (1976). Lancet 2: 738.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Meeker, I.A. and Kincanon, W.N. (1974). Surgery 56: 419.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mulvaney, W.P., Quilites, T. and Mortera, A. (1975). J. Urol. 114: 107.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lorber, A., Baumagartner, W.A., Bovy, R.A., Chang, C.C. and Hollcraft, R. (1973). J. Clin. Pharmacol. 13 (8): 332.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Botta, J.A. Jr., Nelson, L.W. and Weikel, J.H. Jr. (1973). J. Natal. Cancer Inst. 51 (3): 1051.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Leavy, L. and Harris, R. (1977). Biochem. Pharmacol. 26 (11): 1015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kline, I., Gang, M., Woodman, R.J., Cysyk, R.L. and Venditti, J.M. (1973). Cancer Chemother. Rep. 57 (3): 299.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sprince, H., Parker, G.M., Smith, G.G. and Gonzales, C.J. (1975). Agents Action 5 (2): 164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Republique Francaise Patent No. 7. 688 M (Institut. Nastional de la Propriete Industrielle) issued to Societe d' Etudes et de Recherches Phasrmaceutiques. (1970) Feb. 16.

  14. Wagner, P.D., Mathien-Costello, O., Bebort, D.E., Gray, A.T., Natterson, P.D. and Glennow, C. (1989). Ur. Res. J. 2 (2): 166.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Smejkal, V. (1989) Farmakoter. Zpr. 35 (3): 183.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. MacDonald, C.M., Dow, J., and Moore, M.R. (1977). Biochem. Pharmacol. 26 (16): 11529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nagasawa, H.T., Goon, J.D., Consantino, N.V. and Alexander, C.S. (1975). Life Sci. 17 (5): 707.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Torrielli, M.V., Gabriel, L. and Dianzani, M.U. (1978). J. Pathol. 126 (1): 11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Peterson, R.G. and Rumack, B.H. (1977). JAMA 237 (22): 2406.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Prescott, L.F., Park, J., Ballantyae, A., Adrioenssene, P. and Proudfoot, A.T. (1977). Lancet 2 (8305): 432.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Jaya, D.S., Joy, A and Menon, V.P. (1993). Indian J. Exp. Biol. 31: 453.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ioannides, C., Hall, D.E., Mulder, D.E., Stede, Spicket, J., Delaforge, M. and Parke, D.V. (1983). Toxicology. 28: 313.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Walker, R.M., McElligott, T.F., Power, E.M., Massey, T.E. and Racz, W.J. (1983). Toxicology. 28: 193.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Culling, G.F.A. (1974). In: Histopathological and Histochemical Techniques, (3rd. ed.) Butterworths, London.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Reitman, S. and Frankel, S. (1957). Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 28: 56.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. King, J. (1965). In: Practical Clinical Enzymology D. Van. Nostrand Co., London. p. 191

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kakkar, P., Das, B. and Viswanathan, P.N. (1984). Indian J. Biochem. Biophys. 21 (2): 130.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Machly, A.C. and Chance, B. In: (Glick, D., ed) Interscience. New York. p. 357.

  29. Folch, J., Less, M. and Stanley, G.H.S. (1957). J. Biol. Chem. 226: 497.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Abell, L.L., Levy, B.B., Brodie, B.B. and Kendall, F.E. (1952). J. Biol. Chem. 195: 357.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Vanttadell, E. and Zilversmit, D.B. (1957). J. Lab. Clin. Med. 50: 152.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zilversmit, D.B., and Davis, A.K. (1950). Lab. Clin. Med. 35: 155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Itaya, K. (1977). J. Lipid. Res., 18 (5): 663.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Nichaus, W.G. Jr., and Samuelsson, B. (1968). Eur. J. Biochem. 6 (1): 126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Bennett, C.A. and Franklin, N.L. (1967). In: Statistical Analysis in Chemistry and Chemical Industry. John Wiley and sons. New York. p. 133.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Henagon, J.M., Smith, G.S., Schmidt, K.L. and Miller, T.A. (1968). Ann. Surg. 204 (6): 698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Szabo, S., Trier, J.S. and Frankel, P.W. (1981). Science 214 (4517): 200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Miller, T.A., Li, D., Kuo, Y.T., Schmidt, K.L. and Shanbour, L.L. (1985). Am J. Physiol. 249: 137.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, 695581, Trivandrum

    D. S. Jaya, J. Augustine & V. P. Menon (Professor and Head)

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical College, 695581, Trivandrum

    D. S. Jaya, J. Augustine & V. P. Menon (Professor and Head)

Authors
  1. D. S. Jaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Augustine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. P. Menon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jaya, D.S., Augustine, J. & Menon, V.P. Protective role of N-acetylcysteine against alcohol and paracetamol induced toxicity. Indian J Clin Biochem 9, 64–71 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02869573

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02869573

Key Words

search

Navigation