Potentiation of Paracetamol and Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rodents by the Food Additive Vanillin

The potential of vanillin to potentiate the paracetamol and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in rats. Vanillin when given alone (15 mg/kg, orally), did not modify liver function in rats as the values of serum enzymes of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransaminases (AST and ALT) were found similar to those in the normal animals. However, when given repeatedly before the administration of the subtoxic dose of paracetamol (500 mg/kg) or CCl4 (1 ml/kg), vanillin caused liver damage, as manifested by the significant increase in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes. When tested for its possible interaction with pentobarbital (75 mg/kg, ip) and strychnine (0.9 mg/kg, ip), it caused reduction in pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice as well as preventing the animals against the lethal effect of strychnine, suggestive of an induction of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes. These results indicate that vanillin potentiates the hepatotoxic potential of paracetamol and CCl4 in rats probably through an enzyme induction process.