Potential protective effects of quercetin and curcumin on paracetamol-induced histological changes, oxidative stress, impaired liver and kidney functions and haematotoxicity in rat

The present study was carried out to evaluate the potential protective role of quercetin and curcumin against paracetamol-induced oxidative injury, liver damage and impairment of kidney function, as well as haematotoxicity in rats. Also, N-acetylcysteine was used to evaluate the potency of quercetin and curcumin. Paracetamol caused an elevation in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) paralleled with significant decline in glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (in plasma, brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney and testes) and glutathione content (in lung, liver and kidney). The apparent oxidative injury was associated with evident hepatic necrosis confirmed in histological examination, elevated plasma transmainases, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. Paracetamol reduced plasma total protein, albumin and globulin, while increased bilirubin, urea and creatinine, and induced haematotoxicity. The presence of quercetin or curcumin with paracetamol successfully mitigated the rise in TBARS and restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes compared to the group treated with both paracetamol and N-acetylcysteine. They also protected liver histology, normalized liver and kidney functions, which was more pronounced with curcumin. Therefore, it can be concluded that concomitant administration of quercetin or curcumin with paracetamol may be useful in reversing the toxicity of the drug compared to N-acetylcysteine.