Acute acetaminophen
(APAP) toxicity is a predominant clinical problem,
which causes serious liver injury in both humans and experimental
animals. This study presents the histological and biochemical factor
and antioxidant enzyme level changes induced by an acute acetaminophen
overdose in Wistar albino rat livers to elucidate the effective hepatoprotective
potential of biofabricated palladium nanoparticle-decorated reduced
graphene oxide nanocomposites (rGO/PdNPs-NC) compared to silymarin.
After detailed characterization of the hepatoprotective potential
of the synthesized rGO/PdNPs-NC, the rats were divided into eight
groups (n= 6): control group (normal saline, 1 mL/kg
b.w.), silymarin,Punica granatum(pomegranate)
peel extract, PdNPs, reduced graphene oxide (rGO-PG), and reduced
graphene oxide palladium nanocomposites (rGO/PdNPs-NC, low and high
doses) for 7 successive days. The acetaminophen (APAP)-treated group
was administered a single dose of acetaminophen (2 g/kg b.w.) on the
8th day. The histopathological results showed that the acetaminophen
overdose group exhibited massive intrahepatic hemorrhagic necrosis
around the centrilobular region with hepatocytes with vacuolization
and swollen cytoplasm found in the liver architecture. This hepatopotential
was further assessed by various biochemical parameters such as SGOT,
SGPT, ALB, ALP, LDH, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, and total
protein. Also, the antioxidant parameters such as SOD, CAT, MDA, GSH,
GRD, and GST were assayed. Rats of groups 7 and 8 showed a significant
decrease in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, LDH, direct bilirubin, and total bilirubin
(p< 0.001), while a significant increase in the
final total protein and ALB as compared to group 2 rats (p< 0.001) was observed. The antioxidant parameters exhibited that
rats of groups 7 and 8 showed a significant (p<
0.001) increase in the level of SOD, CAT, GSH, GRD, and GST without
affecting the MDA as compared to group 2 rats. Also, the hepatoprotective
potential of rGO/PdNPs-NC (low and high doses) was comparable to that
of the standard reference drug silymarin. The present study reveals
that the rGO/PdNPs-NC possesses significant hepatoprotective activity
and acts as an effective and promising curative agent against acetaminophen-induced
hepatotoxicity.