Protective effects of Garcinia kola seed extract against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The hepatoprotective effect of Garcinia kola seed extract was investigated in rats treated with high doses of paracetamol. The extracts when administered at 100 mg/kg three times a day for five consecutive days reduced paracetamol- (800, 1000, 1200 mg/kg) induced lethality from 50, 90 and 100% to 0, 20 and 40%, respectively. There was a significant reduction in the liver enzymes SGOT and SGPT and histology scores. The hepatoprotective effect of the extract may be due to inhibition of cytochrome P-450 which normally converts paracetamol to the toxic intermediate metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI).