Cernitins are preparations obtained from plant pollen which contain numerous compounds of potential biological significance. This work deals with the influence of cernitins upon acute paracetamol toxicity in mice. The survival rate and indices of hepatic injury: aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, bilirubin level in serum, glutathione and cytochrome P-450 content in liver, liver weight, histopathologic picture of the liver and presence of glycogen and lipids in stained liver sections, under different experimental protocols, were determined. It was found that cernitins are able to increase the survival rate of mice and reduce liver injury in acute paracetamol poisoning. Cernitins are more effective when administered after, rather than before, a dose of paracetamol. The possible mechanism through which cernitins may act is discussed.

Paracetamol causes extensive liver damage when taken in overdose quantities; however, it is less hepatotoxic when administered in combination with caffeine. The present work in mice was undertaken to study the effect of caffeine on mortality rates and biochemical and histological parameters of liver damage after administration of toxic doses of paracetamol. It was found that caffeine markedly increased the survival rate after administration of a dose of paracetamol that was lethal to 50% and 100% of mice, reduced liver damage as assessed by serum glutamic pyruvic and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activities, partially prevented the depletion of reduced glutathione and reduced histological changes to the liver accompanying paracetamol intoxication. The results support the possibility that caffeine might be useful for the treatment of paracetamol intoxication in humans.