Sesame oil and sesamol as therapeutic agents against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury

Acetaminophen is an analgesic and antipyretic. It is safe when taken as directed but can cause extreme harm and even death in amounts above recommended doses. N-acetylcysteine is the standard clinical antidote for treating overdoses of acetaminophen. However, the optimal dose, route, and duration of N-acetylcysteine therapy remain unknown despite more than 30 years of experience with this antidote. The search for a novel and effective antidote for acetaminophen overdose continues. Sesame oil has been widely used in Chinese and Indian herbal medicine. Sesame oil and its lignan sesamol have been proved effective for treating various drug-induced and chemically induced liver injuries. Sesame oil and sesamol not only maintain glutathione levels but also reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species during acetaminophen intoxication. Sesame oil and sesamol's multi-beneficial actions may be useful for treating acetaminophen-overdose-associated liver injuries.