Effect of Combination Therapy of Garcinia kola Seed and Vitamin E in Acetaminophen Induced Hepatotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Albino Rats

Acetaminophen, used for antipyretic and analgesic purposes has been known to exhibit toxic effects on the organs because of its ability to generate free radicals, causing varieties of diseases. This study investigated the impact of the combined formed of Garcinia kola seed and Vitamin E pretreatment exposure on hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by acetaminophen in Albino Rats. Five groups of animals were used for this study. Group 1 as the control received distilled water orally only, group 2 as toxicity control intoxicated with 800 mg acetaminophen intraperitoneally. The other three groups were pretreated with various doses of either Garcinia kola seed extract or vitamin E or a combined form respectively by oral gavage method for 7 days before induction with acetaminophen intraperitoneally on the 8th day and sacrificed under chloroform anaethesia. Acetaminophen induction significantly rise (p<0.05) the hepatic enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) and a marked reduction of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPX) in group 2 animals when compared with the control. There was also a significant rise (p<0.05) in the MDA levels. Meanwhile the combined form of Garcinia kola seed extract and Vitamin E pretreatment exposure on the organs showed no synergetic ameliorative potentials as compared with the single pretreatment exposure with Garcinia kola and Vitamin E respectively. The morphology of the tissue cells pretreated with these combined formed exhibited features showing signs of cell damages and slow recovery from the toxicity. Therefore combining Garcinia kola and Vitamin E may lost its ameliorative and protective effect as seen in this induced acetaminophen albino rats implying that Garcinia kola seed and Vitamin E should not be taken in a combined form.