Protective role of heptametoxyflavone against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish

Abstract

Paracetamol [acetaminophen (APAP)] toxicity is universal drug induced basis of acute hepatotoxicity. Here, we have induced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish model using acetaminophen and studied protective role of heptamethoxyflavone isolated from the weed <em>Sphaeranthus amaranthoides </em> Burm.f. Acetaminophen depletes antioxidants such as GST, SOD and CAT levels, elevated the hepatic marker enzymes (ALT and AST), induced apoptosis, and caused hepatocyte necrosis. Heptamethoxyflavone treatment showed protective role on zebrafish embryos as well as adults. It enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes and normalized the hepatic markers significantly compared the control and acetaminophen induced groups. While the acetaminophen group showed abnormal levels of Bcl-2, bax, TNF-ɑ and caspase-3 in the heptamethoxyflavone treated group showed significant increase in Bcl-2 levels and reduced levels of apoptotic gene expression (bax, TNF-ɑ and Caspase-3). Histological observations with H & E staining in heptamethoxyflavone treated group showed normal texture of liver cells. These observations confirm the protective role of heptamethoxyflavone isolated from <em>Sphaeranthus amaranthoides</em> against the acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.