Terminalia arjuna restores the levels of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase of acetaminophen intoxicated mice

Background: Herbal medicines are natural and comparatively safer than conventional treatments and are well-documented for carrying little potential for harm.  Therefore, phytonutrients have occupied a central stage in the therapeutics. Terminalia arjuna, a medicinal plant, has been reported to have homeostatic, laxative, diuretic, antidiabetic, anticancer and cardiotonic actions.Methods: The current study was designed to investigate the protective role of T. arjuna leaf extract at three dose levels (100, 250, 500 mg/kg body weight) against acetaminophen (250 mg/kg body weight) induced liver damage.Results: The administration of hepatotoxin (Acetaminophen) resulted in disturbance of hematological and serological profile including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) which was assayed in control and drug treated experimental models. Treatment with T.  arjuna leaf extract for 7 days restored the normal levels of markers and response was dose dependent.Conclusion: This study adds to the very limited existing literature regarding hepatoprotective effect of T. arjuna against acetaminophen toxicity. It is also important to get a step closer to development of accessible, authoritative, and independent information resources about herbal medicines and wide-ranging health disorders, which are currently lacking in Pakistan.Keywords: Hepatoprotective; Terminalia arjuna; ALP; AST