Is N-acetyl cysteine protective against monocrotaline-induced toxicity?

Abstract

Monocrotaline (MCT) is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid which induces cardio-pulmonary toxicity and hepatotoxicity in animals and humans. MCT is frequently ingested because of food grain contamination accidentally or in the form of herbal medicine preparations. The aim of this study was to observe the protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on MCT-induced pulmonary toxicity and hepatotoxicity. According to our results (right ventricular pressures [RVPs], ratios of right ventricle (RV)/heart weight (HW), plasma AST levels, liver glutathione levels, liver MDA levels and liver histopathological examinations of groups), protective effects were observed with NAC treatment in both MCT-induced pulmonary toxicity and hepatotoxicity.