Evaluation of in vitro Antioxidant, in vitro Cytotoxicity on HepG2 Cell line and Hepatoprotective Activity against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats of Piperonylic Acid

Background

Excessive paracetamol use can cause liver damage, which is a major public concern. Pharmacological approaches are under investigation to avert such damage. The principal objective of the present investigation is to look at antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), cytotoxicity (HepG2 cell line) and hepatoprotective effect of piperonylic acid against paracetamol triggered liver damage in a rat model.

Materials and Methods

Antioxidant activity was assessed for Trolax (Standard control) and piperonylic acid using the DPPH assay model with dosages ranging from 100 to 6.25 µg/mL. The cytotoxicity potential of piperonylic acid was carried out on the selected cancer cell lines HepG2 by MTT assay. Five groups each with 6 rats were given orally every day vehicle (0.25% CMC), paracetamol (640 mg/kg, Hepatotoxic control), 100 mg/kg silymarin (Standard Drug Treated), Piperonylic acid (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 14 days, hepatotoxicity was then triggered using acetaminophen (except normal control group).

Results

By DPPH assay the Inhibitory Concentration (IC₅₀) of piperonylic acid has been identified to be 78.17±1.29 µg/mL. Trolox exhibited highest antioxidant activity followed by piperonylic acid. Cell viability in HepG2 was considerably dropped in correlation with concentration. The IC₅₀ value turned out to be 97.109 µg/mL. Paracetamol efficiently caused liver damage and oxidative stress and pre-treatment with piperonylic acid in rats lowered hepatotoxic indicators considerably and dose-dependently. Piperonylic acid at 200 mg/kg significantly reversed paracetamol triggered changes in liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and GGT).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that pretreatment with piperonlyic acid can attenuate the oxidative stress, significant cytotoxicity potential in HepG2 cell line and protect in defense of paracetamol-induced toxicity to the liver in rats.