RESUMO
AIM: The present study assessed the ability of Chelidonium majus to potentiate the hepatic effect of a sub-toxic dose of acetaminophen, in rats. RESULTS: C. majus, when administered alone, did not alter the liver function parameters in male, whereas an increase in fibrinogen level was found in female rats. Moreover, it did not affect the hepatic histomorphology in both male and female rats. The sub-toxic dose of acetaminophen induced: a significant increase in activated partial thromboplastin time in both genders, a focal hepatocellular necrosis with minor lymphocytes infiltrate and a slight but significant increase in total bilirubin, AST, and ALT in male rats, and in prothrombin time in female rats. The co-administration of C. majus did not increase the effects induced by acetaminophen, in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: C. majus does not modify the hepatic effects of acetaminophen in our in vivo experimental model.