Protective Activity of Fumaria vaillantii Extract and Monomethyl Fumarate on Acetaminophen Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Mono Methyl Fumarate (MMF) is active component of Fumaria sp. methanolic extract. In Iranian traditional medicine, Fumitory is used widely as a remedy for several diseases including liver dysfunction. In the present study, effect of monomethyl fumarate and Fumaria extract was investigated against acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage and compared to a known hepatoprotective plant, Silybum marianum and its active ingredient, silymarin. Biochemical parameters including AST, ALT, LDH,, ALKP and total and direct bilirubin were measured in serum samples. Glutathione (GSH and GSSG) and Malon Di Aldehyde (MDA) contents were determined in mouse liver homogenates. Liver sections were also collected for histopathological examination. Acetaminophen produced acute toxicity at the dose of 640 mg kg(-1) in mice while pretreatment and post treatment of animals (i.p., twice daily for 48 h) with monomethyl fumarate, silymarin (25, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1)) or the plant extracts (300 and 500 mg kg(-1)) significantly lowered the rise of ALT, AST, LDH, ALKP and bilirubin (Total and direct) in serum. In addition, both compounds and the plant extracts significantly increased glutathione content and reduced MDA level of the liver. Taken collectively, the results indicate that monomethyl fumarate and Fumaria extract exhibited hepatoprotective action against acetaminophen liver injury which is comparable to that of Silybum marianum and silymarin.