Study of oyster extract on acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage

Abstract

Glutathione is found in various tissues and plays an important role in terms of anti-oxidant effects and drug metabolism. In a previous study, we reported that oyster extract enhanced glutathione in rat hippocampus.

Acetaminophen has been extensively used as an analgesic. However, it has been reported that an overdose of it caused serious hepatic damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether oyster extract inhibits hepatic damage due to acetaminophen.

In serum, the administration of oyster extract tended to suppress up-regulation of AST and ALT with acetaminophen. In liver, the administration of oyster extract increased total glutathione. In addition, it suppressed the downregulation of glutathione with acetaminophen.

These results indicate that oyster extract inhibits hepatic damage due to acetaminophen.