Protective Effect of Naturally-Derived Antioxidants Against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Review

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) drug known to induce hepatotoxicity when consumed in excess. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidation of cellular proteins and enzymes are directly involved in its toxic mechanisms. However, antioxidants can be helpful to inhibit or restrict the oxidative damage. Besides synthetic antioxidants, naturally-derived substances can be used to serve the purpose. In this paper, a thorough literature review revealed that APAP combined with food-derived natural antioxidants exhibit a protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.