ESTIMATION OF THE PROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF THE ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF LEPIDIUM SATIVUM SEEDS ON THE LEVEL OF ERYTHROPOIETIN AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF ALBINO MALE RATS DOSED WITH ACETAMINOPHEN
Authors: MAHMOOD AFRAH MOHAMMED ALI , JWAD SAHER MAHMOOD 
Published: July 2023

The aim:  The study was conducted to evaluate the protective role of the alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds in inhibiting acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Study Design: With a following (42) adult albino male rats in three-month-old, whose weight ranged between (215-242) g, the animals were divided into six groups and each group had seven males, the first group was considered as control and was given tap water orally, while the second group was administrated with acetaminophen at a concentration 1000 mg/kg orally, and the third group was treated with the alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration 250 mg/kg, and an hour later was dosed with acetaminophen 1000 mg/kg orally, as well, the fourth group was given alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration 500 mg/kg, and after an hour, acetaminophen was given orally 1000 mg/kg, while the fifth group was subjected to the alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration 250 mg/kg only orally, and the last group was orally treated with alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration 500 mg/kg only, the treatment lasted for (60) days, once a day in the morning (at half past eight).

Place and Duration of Study: The trial was carried out in the animal house belonging to the College of Education for Girls, Department of Biological Sciences \ Kufa University for the period from 1/10/2021 to 1/12/2021.

Methodology: The study included some physiological blood parameters, hemoglobin level, erythrocyte count, packed cells volume, platelet count, total differential count of white blood cells, the biochemical study was the levels of the hormone erythropoietin.

Results: The results showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in hemoglobin level, erythrocyte count, packed cells volume, platelet count, lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil percentages, erythropoietin hormone levels, on the contrary, a notable increase (P<0.05) in the numbers of white blood cells and the percentage of neutrophils was observed in the group treated with acetaminophen compared to the control group. With regard to the group that was submitted to the Lepidium sativum seeds extract at a concentration of 250 mg/kg + acetaminophen, it did not show a preventive role for this concentration against the toxic effects of the drug, as it revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in all parameters included in the study when compared to the control group, in contrast, the group treated with Lepidium sativum seeds extract at concentration 500 mg/kg + acetaminophen did not appear significant differences in the criteria of the current study compared with the control group.  As for the group of rats treated with alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration of 250 mg/kg only, it did not exhibit remarkable differences in the study parameters in comparison to the control group, finally, the group orally dosed with alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration 500 mg/kg only, recorded a significant increase (P<0.05) in the level of hemoglobin, numbers of erythrocyte, packed cells volume, numbers of white blood cells, percentage of lymphocytes, and levels of erythropoietin hormone in compared to the control group.

Conclusion: the alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum seeds at a concentration of 500 mg/kg showed a protective efficiency against the toxic impacts of acetaminophen drug, and this may be attributed to its potent antioxidant components.