Abstract

Ginseng has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutical actions. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Panax ginseng (Pg) against the liver damage induced by paracetamol (acetaminophen; AA) in mice. Fifteen mice were divided into three groups; each contains five mice. Group "1": normal control; Group "2": mice treated via the intraperitoneal route with paracetamol (500 mg/kg) for five consecutive days; Group "3": the remaining mice were also injected intraperitoneally with ginseng (200 mg/kg) for five successive days; then injected with only one dose of paracetamol (500 mg/kg). Acetaminophen increased significantly the levels of alanine aminotransferase "ALT" and aspartate aminotransferase "AST" while decreased the level of serum albumin in significant value. Administration of Panax ginseng (Pg) in the third group reduced significantly the levels of "ALT" and "AST" that were induced with AA administration near to the control values and modulated the low level of albumin that was induced with AA near to the normal values in a significant manner. Liver histopathological studies showed that AA administration induced many pathological effects that can be ameliorated or prevented by applying pretreatment with Pg. These results recommend that Pg has a protective effect against AA-induced liver injury in mice.

Key words: Panax ginseng (Pg), acetaminophen (AA), paracetamol, ALT, AST, albumin, liver