Hepatoprotective Effect of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth against Acetaminophen Intoxication in Rats

Orthosiphon stamineus Benth (Lamiceae) is commonly used by the Malaysian for the treatment of many diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In the present study, the hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of O. stamineus against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was studied. Fourty-two young male SD rats were randomly assigned to seven groups: normal control group, APAP control group, silymarin treated group and four groups receiving methanol extract of O. stamineus in varying dosages. The hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of O. stamineus extract on SD rats was determined by using serum enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and the percentage of hepatocytes viability. 2 g/kg of APAP caused a significant liver damage in APAP control group compared to normal control group. However, pretreatment with 500 mg/kg of methanol extract of O. stamineus to rats was significantly reverted all the APAP-induced changes in serum enzymes and the percentage of hepatocytes viability compared to the APAP control group. The results suggest that the use of methanol extract of O. stamineus appeared to be beneficial to rats in preventing the liver damage induced by APAP and may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.