Enhancement of acetaminophen overdosage-induced hepatotoxicity by coconut water

Abstract

Coconut water was investigated for its possible effect on the acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdosage-induced hepatotoxicity in three groups of albino Wistar rats. Administration of the minimum toxic dose of paracetamol (150mg/kg body weight) to animals (group II) produced significantly (P≤0.05) higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities when compared to the control group (group I). There was however no significant (P≤0.05) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Significantly (p<0.05) higher ALP and ALT activities were also observed in group III (the group administered with paracetamol and treated with coconut water) when compared with the control (group I) and the paracetamol-overdosed group (group II) indicating that the coconut water may have rather enhanced the toxicity of acetaminophen overdosage on the liver. The common use of coconut water as a palliative for drug overdosage is therefore contraindicated.

Keywords: acetaminophen overdosage, hepatotoxicity, coconut water

Biokemistri Vol. 17(2) 2005: 143-147