Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. (Connaraceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The leaf decoction of Byrsocarpus coccineus (Connaraceae) is drunk for the treatment of jaundice in West African traditional medicine.

Aim of the study

To investigate the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of Byrsocarpus coccineus in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Materials and methods

Group allotment in this study included vehicle, CCl₄, Byrsocarpus coccineus 1000 mg/kg alone, Byrsocarpus coccineus 200, 400, and 1000 mg/kg + CCl₄ and Livolin^® 20 mg/kg + CCl₄, and treatment was carried out accordingly. On the 7th day, rats were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture. The levels and activities of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes were then assayed using standard procedures.

Results

CCl₄ significantly (P < 0.05) increased the levels of ALT and AST and reduced total protein. In CCl₄ treated animals, Byrsocarpus coccineus (200, 400, and 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently and significantly decreased ALT, AST and ALP levels with peak effect produced at the highest dose. Conversely, Byrsocarpus coccineus produced significant increases in albumin and total protein levels. The standard drug produced significant effects in respect of ALT (↓), albumin (↑), and total protein (↑). CCl₄ also produced significant (P < 0.05) reductions in the activity of catalase, SOD, peroxidase and GSH, and conversely increased MDA level. Byrsocarpus coccineus produced significant and dose-dependent reversal of CCl₄-diminished activity of the antioxidant enzymes and reduced CCl₄-elevated level of MDA. The standard drug also significantly increased CCl₄-diminished antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced CCl₄-elevated MDA level. In general, the effects of the standard drug were comparable and not significantly different from those of Byrsocarpus coccineus.

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus possesses hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects. This finding justifies the use of this preparation in West African traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disease.     

Accelerated liver recovery after acute CCl4 poisoning in rats treated with sodium phthalhydrazide

Pharmacotherapy of hepatobiliary disorders is an important issue due to the high prevalence of liver failure, toxic and viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. The number of stimuli that can potentially induce or accelerate liver recovery is limited; in our study we selected sodium phthalhydrazide, which has been found to promote liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. We examined the effects of phthalhydrazide on liver morphometric, histological and biochemical parameters in rats intoxicated with CCl₄. Accelerated liver recovery after CCl₄ intoxication in phthalhydrazide-treated animals was evidenced by increased number of liver sinusoidal cells, reduced focal necrosis of hepatocytes and reduced perifocal leukocyte infiltration. Decreased plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-18 and decreased concentrations of IL-6 and IFN-γ in liver homogenates were associated with reduced severity of cholestasis and normalized hepatic protein synthesis in CCl₄-intoxicated rats exposed to phthalhydrazide. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties of phthahlhydrazide can be an important factor contributing to accelerated liver recovery at early stages of acute CCl₄-toxic liver impairment.     

Hepatoprotective potentials of Phyllanthus amarus against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of the leaf of Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) against ethanol-induced oxidative damage was investigated in adult male Wistar albino rats. P. amarus (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) and ethanol (5 g/kg/day, 20% w/v) were administered orally to animals for 4 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. Ethanol treatment markedly decreased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the liver, which were significantly enhanced by P. amarus treatment. Glutathione-S transferase (GST), which was increased after chronic ethanol administration, was significantly reduced by P. amarus treatment in the liver. Also, P. amarus significantly increased the activities of hepatic alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), with a concomitant marked reduction in the plasma activity of the transaminases in the ethanol-challenged rats. Lipid peroxidation level, which was increased after chronic ethanol administration, was significantly reduced in the liver by P. amarus co-treatment. Results show that P. amarus leaf extract could protect the liver against ethanol-induced oxidative damage by possibly reducing the rate of lipid peroxidation and increasing the antioxidant defence mechanism in rats.     

Hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at acupoint GB34 against CCl4-induced chronic liver damage in rats

AIM: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) on CCl4-induced chronic liver damage in rats. METHODS: Rats were injected intraperitoneally with CC4l (1 mL/kg) and treated with manual acupuncture using reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 (Yanglingquan) 3 times a week for 10 wk. A non-acupoint in left gluteal area was selected as a sham point. To estimate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at GB34, measurement of liver index, biochemical assays including serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol, histological analysis and blood cell counts were conducted. RESULTS: Manual acupuncture at GB34 reduced the liver index, serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol levels as compared with the control group and the sham acupuncture group. It also increased and normalized the populations of WBC and lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: Manual acupuncture with reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 reduces liver toxicity, protects liver function and liver tissue, and normalizes immune activity in CCl4-intoxicated rats.     

Prophylactic and therapeutic roles of oleanolic acid and its derivatives in several diseases

Oleanolic acid (OA) and its derivatives are widely found in diverse plants and are naturally effective pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with broad prophylactic and therapeutic roles in various diseases such as ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, diabetes, hepatitis and different cancers. This review assembles and presents the latest in vivo reports on the impacts of OA and OA derivatives from various plant sources and the biological mechanisms of OA activities. Thus, this review presents sufficient data proposing that OA and its derivatives are potential alternative and complementary therapies for the treatment and management of several diseases.     

异甘草酸镁与硫普罗宁在乳腺癌术后化疗过程中保肝作用的比较

目的探讨异甘草酸镁与硫普罗宁二种保肝药物对治疗乳腺癌化疗所致肝损伤的保护作用。方法选取2010年6月—2013年6月经病理学诊断为乳腺癌的女性患者共60例,随机分为二组,每组30例。分别使用异甘草酸镁与硫普罗宁对二组患者进行治疗,为期1周。统计患者肝脏酶学水平变化及不良反应发生率并进行比较。二组患者在治疗前年龄、体重、肝功能等方面差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结果二组患者经药物治疗后,血清谷丙转氨酶(Alanine aminotransferase,ALT)及谷草转氨酶(Aspartate aminotransferase,AST)水平均下降,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);在二组患者肝损伤程度相一致的情况下,经药物治疗后,异甘草酸镁组患者血清ALT、AST水平及出现不良反应患者数(3.3%)明显低于硫普罗宁组(30.0%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论异甘草酸镁及硫普罗宁均有保肝作用,但异甘草酸镁降低血清肝酶的效果明显优于硫普罗宁,且不良反应较少,应在临床上广泛推广。     

肝复康颗粒保肝作用的实验研究

探讨肝复康颖粒的保肝作用。方法：评价肝复康对,D-半乳糖胺、硫化乙酰胺致大鼠急性肝损伤、四氯化碳致小鼠急性肝损伤的作用,并与联苯双醋作对照。结果：肝复康能明显抑制D-半乳糖胺和硫化乙酰胺、四氯化碳致急性肝损伤动物的SGPT、SGOT值的升高（P〈0．05）。结论：肝复康具有一定的保肝作用。     

Pharmacological evaluation of Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Ipomoeaasarifolia (Desr.) Roem. and Schult. is used traditionally in some parts of Africa for the treatment of a variety of diseases. This study attempts to validate its hepatoprotective activity by evaluating the prophylactic and curative properties of the methanolic extract of Ipomoea asarifolia (IA) leaves.

Materials and Methods

Liver damage was induced by administering 0.5 ml/kg of an equal mixture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in olive oil intraperitoneally on alternate days, for 5 days and the plant extract was given orally daily, for 7 days at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg.

Results

Pre-treatment with the extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased CCl₄-induced elevation in serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, bilirubin and cholesterol, better than the standard drug silymarin at 100 mg/kg. In the curative study, IA significantly (P<0.05) reversed CCl₄-induced liver damage, comparable to silymarin. Hepatoprotective potential was further supported by decrease in pentobarbitone sleeping time and improved hepatic tissue histopathology.

Conclusion

These results indicate that I. asarifolia leaves have potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄-induced hepatic damage in rats.     

Effects of four Indian medicinal herbs on Isoniazid-, Rifampicin- and Pyrazinamide-induced hepatic injury and immunosuppression in guinea pigs

AIM: To evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma longa (CL), Ocimum sanctum (OS), Tinospora cordifolia (TC) and Zizyphus mauritiana (ZM) on liver injury and immunosuppression induced by Isoniazid (INH), Rifampicin (RIF) and Pyrazinamide (PZA). METHODS: Duncan Hartley guinea pigs, weighing 700-1050 g, were treated orally with 50 mg/kg of INH, 100 mg/kg of RIF and 300 mg/Kg of PZA for 21-d. 200 mg/kg (bw) of each herb crude extract was administered to the herb control group and 2-h previous to INH + RIF + PZA (AKT) doses to the Herb + AKT groups. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST) bilirubin and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were assessed on d 0 and 21 in all the groups. Phagocytic % (P%), Phagocytic Index (PI) and Chemotactic Index (CI) were also measured as immunologic parameters. Histological analysis was carried out to assess injury to the liver. RESULTS: The AKT treated control group showed hepatotoxicity as judged by elevated serum AST 5-fold, AST/ALT ratio 4-fold, ALP 2-fold and hepatological changes, such as focal necrosis, portal triaditis and steatosis. Immune function was suppressed as judged by decreased P% (51.67 ?1.68 vs 40.61 ?1.28, P < 0.01), PI (2.0725±0.05 vs 0.61±0.05, P < 0.001) and CI (1.8525±0.04 vs 0.695±0.07, P < 0.001). All four herb treated groups showed normal liver histology, enzyme levels and increased P%, while PI and CI were enhanced in the TC and ZM treated groups, respectively. CL + AKT, TC + AKT and ZM + AKT showed nearly normal histology with minimal inflammation and microvesicular steatosis, while OS + AKT showed partial protection. Hepatotoxicity was prevented by restricting the rise of AST by 2-fold in CL + AKT and TC + AKT groups and by 3-fold in OS + AKT and ZM + AKT groups, AST/ALT by 2-fold and ALP to normal levels in all four groups. All four herb + AKT groups showed normal to enhanced neutrophil function. CONCLUSION: All four herbs showed hepatoprotective potential and prevented immunosuppression. CL and TC showed the highest hepatoprotective activity, while TC and ZM showed strong immunostimulatory activity.     

Protective Activity of the Stem Bark Aqueous Extract of Musanga Cecropioides in Carbon Tetrachloride- and Acetaminophen-induced Acute Hepatotoxicity in Rats

The hepatoprotective activities and the mechanisms of actions of Musanga cecropioides stem bark aqueous extract (MCW) were investigated on acute hepatocellular injuries induced by intraperitoneal (IP) carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (20% CCl₄/olive oil, 1.5 mL/kg) and 800 mg/kg/IP of acetaminophen (APAP) in normal saline, in male Wistar rats. Among the Yorubas (South-West Nigeria), cold decoction of MCW is used as a natural antidote for oral gastric poisonings, infective hepatitis and other liver diseases. Its hepatoprotective activities were monitored by assaying for the serum aminotransferases, ornithine carbamoyl transferase and the toxicant-induced histopathological lesions in rat livers 24 hours post-induction. These enzymes are markers of acute hepatic injuries and their elevations are indications of acute liver injuries. Pretreatment of rats with graded doses (125 – 500 mg/kg) of MCW significantly attenuated the acute elevation of the liver enzymes and the hepatotoxin-induced histopathological lesions in the rat livers. The presence of two active natural antioxidants (flavonoids and alkaloids) in high concentrations in MCW may account for the hepatoprotective activities observed in this study. These results, thus, support the folkloric use of MCW for treatment of hepatic injuries resulting from acute gastric poisonings, infective hepatitis or other liver diseases.