Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Panax Ginseng on Hepatotoxicity Induced in Rats Model

Abstract

Panax ginseng is a widely recognized medicinal plant known for its hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. These properties are largely attributed to its active constituents, the ginsenosides. Diclofenac, a commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is associated with clinically significant hepatotoxicity characterized by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hepatocellular injury. This study aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic efficacy of the alcoholic extract of Panax ginseng against diclofenac-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male rats. Forty-nine rats were allocated into seven experimental groups and administered diclofenac, P. ginseng extract, or combined treatments for 30 days according to the study design. Serum biomarkers of liver function (ALT, AST, ALP) and oxidative stress (MDA, SOD) were measured, and liver tissues were subjected to histopathological evaluation. Diclofenac administration resulted in marked elevations in liver enzyme activities and significant oxidative stress, accompanied by histological alterations including vacuolar degeneration, hepatocellular necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration. In contrast, both co-administration and post-treatment with Panax ginseng extract produced substantial improvements in biochemical and histological parameters, restoring enzyme levels, reducing lipid peroxidation, enhancing antioxidant activity, and improving liver architecture. The Panax ginseng extract alone produced no adverse hepatic effects. These findings demonstrate that the alcoholic extract of Panax ginseng possesses both preventive and therapeutic hepatoprotective properties against diclofenac-induced liver injury, likely mediated through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The results support its potential use as a natural agent for mitigating drug-induced hepatotoxicity.