Abstract

Background:
Paracetamol (also called acetaminophen) overdose induces hepatotoxicity that can lead to liver failure. Liver poisoning occurs as a result of paracetamol poisoning when a toxic dose of paracetamol is taken, as the liver loses the ability to secrete the enzymes responsible for getting rid of the toxic paracetamol metabolites, and these metabolites begin to accumulate in the liver and bind to liver cells and destroying them. Although some studies state that paracetamol poisoning does not have a direct cardiotoxic effect, certain studies have shown ECG changes due to metabolic disturbance of hepatotoxicity.

Aim:
This study aimed to investigate the effect of wheat germ oil (WGO) on the heart and liver activity of rats exposed to paracetamol toxicity.

Methods:
Eighteen adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups (six rats in each group). The first group was the control group, the second group was treated with paracetamol (250 mg/kg) only, and the third group was treated with paracetamol (250 mg/kg) and WGO (0.9 mg/kg) for 4 weeks (5 days a week only). Blood samples were taken at the end of 4 weeks to measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine, albumin, and blood cell count.

Results:
The results showed that ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, albumin, and blood cell concentrations increased significantly in the paracetamol group, whereas the concentrations of these biochemicals decreased in rats treated with WGO.

Conclusion:
WGO administration could markedly improve the hepato-renal and heart activity against paracetamol damage and consequently may be used as a therapeutic agent against the systemic toxicity of the body by reducing inflammation, as in blood cell results.

Key words: Blood cells; Liver and kidney activity; Paracetamol; Wheat germ oil.