Studies on the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of polysaccharides from Talinum triangulare

Ethnophamacological relevancy

The whole plant of Talinum triangulare (Family: Portulacaceae) is used in variety of diseases including hepatic ailments in Africa and Taiwan of China.

Aims of the study

The study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of polysaccharides from T. triangulare (TTP).

Materials and methods

The TTP was extracted using boiling water, and removed protein by Sevag method. 40%, 60% and 80% ethanol precipitating TTP (40%, 60%, 80% TTP) were gained by the successive addition of absolute ethanol. The antioxidant activities of 40%, 60%, 80% and crude TTP were evaluated using three different models in vitro, including reducing power, hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anion. To investigate the hepatoprotective potential, mice were treated with crude polysaccharides (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days. Liver injures were induced by CCl₄ (0.1% in arachis oil, 10 mg/kg, i.v.) 1 h after the drug administration on day 7. Mice were sacrificed at 24 h after the CCl₄ injection. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues were measured. Histopathological examinations were carried out to supplement the biochemical results.

Results and conclusions

In vitro assays, TTP showed remarkably different degrees of antioxidant activities in dose-dependent manners. The crude TTP demonstrated a relatively strong antioxidant activity, while the 40% TTP showed the strongest antioxidant activity, and the 60% TTP had the weakest antioxidant ability. In vivo assay, pretreatment with TTP had significantly decreased the levels of AST, ALT and MDA against CCl₄ injures, and restored the activities of defense antioxidant substances SOD and GSH towards normalization. These results supported the effect of T. triangulare in fork use with scientific evidence.     

Hepatoprotective and toxicological assessment of an ethnomedicinal plant Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don

Aim of the study

The tubers of Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don (Euphorbiaceae) are traditionally used in India by the Malayali tribes of Chitteri hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu to treat liver disorders. The objective of the present study was to assess the hepatoprotective potential and biosafety of Euphorbia fusiformis tuber upon administration thereby justifying the traditional claims.

Materials and methods

The hepatoprotective potential of the ethanol extract of Euphorbia fusiformis tuber against rifampicin induced hepatic damage was investigated in Wistar albino rats. The acute and subchronic toxicity were assessed in mice and rats, respectively.

Results

The ethanol extract of tubers (250 mg/kg p.o.) showed remarkable hepatoprotective effect against rifampicin induced hepatic damage in Wistar albino rats. The degree of protection was measured using the biochemical parameters serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and total protein. Treatment with ethanolic extract prior to the administration of rifampicin significantly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) restored the elevated levels of the said parameters on a par with the control group. The single dose LD₅₀ was found to be 10,000 mg/kg bw when administered orally in mice. Subchronic toxicity studies in rats with oral doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg exhibited no significant changes in body weight gain, general behavior, hematological and biochemical parameters. The histological profile of liver and kidney also indicated the non-toxic nature of this drug.

Conclusion

The ethanol extract of Euphorbia fusiformis tubers may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of liver disorders and is safer to use even at higher doses when taken orally.     

The genus Scutellaria an ethnopharmacological and phytochemical review

Scutellaria (HUANG QIN) (Lamiaceae), which includes about 350 species commonly known as skullcaps, is widespread in Europe, the United States and East Asia. Some species are taken to clear away the heat-evil and expel superficial evils in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The present paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, the biological activities and the correlated chemical compounds of Scutellaria species. More than 295 compounds have been isolated, among them flavonoids and diterpenes. Studies show that Scutellaria and its active principles possess wide pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, anti-angiogenesis, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Currently, effective monomeric compounds or active parts have been screened for pharmacological activity from Scutellaria in vivo and in vitro. Increasing data supports application and exploitation for new drug development.     

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.     

Habb-e-Asgand,polyherbal Unani formulation,protects liver and antioxidative enzymes against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

Context: Habb-e-Asgand, a polyherbal Homeopathy/Unani drug from Hamdard Wakf Laboratory, India, used in arthritis, gout and joint pain, is a mixture of many herbal medicinal plants. Scientific attempts to test and validate its efficacy are meager.

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidative potential of Habb-e-Asgand against paracetamol toxicity.

Materials and methods: Swiss albino male mice (n?=?5/group) were treated with Habb-e-Asgand (250?mg/kg, body weight (b.w.) in normal saline orally for 14?days followed by a single dose of paracetamol (400?mg/kg b.w./normal saline) intraperitoneally 24?h before euthanization. We estimated liver function (LFTs) using diagnostic kits, while antioxidant enzymes, cytochrome P450 (CYP) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured using spectrophotometric methods.

Results: Paracetamol alone induced LFTs enzymes significantly (p?p?S-tranferase (GST, ～16%), catalase (CAT, ～84%) and glutathione (GSH, ～30%) contents. Habb-e-Asgand alone and in combination of paracetamol significantly (p?Discussion: Paracetamol metabolites may be mediating production of reactive oxidant species (ROS) and liver injury, which are attenuated by Habb-e-Asgand antioxidant constituents.

Conclusion: Habb-e-Asgand may be used as a prophylaxis for ROS related liver injury.     

Characterization and hepatoprotective evaluation of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes from the aerial parts of Juniperus sabina L.

Previously, we reported on the hepatoprotective activity of the total extract of Juniperus sabina L. against CCl₄ induced liver toxicity in experimental animals. Biologically directed phytochemical study was conducted to identify the active compounds. Male Wistar rats and the standard drug silymarin were used in the study. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated via serum biochemical parameters such as aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Tissue parameters including non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), malonaldehyde (MDA) and total protein (TP) were also determined. Histopathological study was conducted utilizing Mayer’s hematoxylin stain, Periodic Acid Schiff – Hematoxylin (PAS-H) and Masson trichrome technique on light microscope. Electron microscope images were also generated for the study. The activity of the total extract was trapped to the petroleum ether fraction after liquid-liquid fractionation where 51% reduction in the levels of AST, bilirubin and 44% in the levels of ALT were observed. Chromatographic purification of the petroleum ether fraction resulted in the isolation of nine compounds namely: trans-calamenene (1), cadalene (cadalin) (2), epi-cubenol (3), manool (4), calamenene-10β-ol (5), calamenene-10α-ol (6), 4-epi-abietic acid (7), sandaracopimaric acid (8) and isopimaric acid (9). Compounds 1–3, 5 and 6 are belonging to cadinane sesquiterepenes, while compounds 4, 7–9 were of diterpene skeleton. The major compounds were tested for their hepatoprotective effect. Compounds 3 showed marked improvement in the levels of AST and ALT, compound 4 was effective in improving the levels of AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and bilirubin, while compound 7 showed significant improvement in GGT, ALP and bilirubin levels.     

固定化介导提高苦味叶下珠中的海冰叶下珠脂素和叶下珠次素的含量(英文)

Phyllanthus amarus plant is used in the traditional system of medicine as a hepatoprotective drug for which the majorlignans phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are responsible.So far,no significant work has been done on the culture of this plant.Realizingthe hepatoprotective potential,the present investigation was undertaken.A cost effective process was developed for enhancingphyllanthin and hypophyllanthin utilizing the immobilization technique.HPTLC was used to compare the phyllanthin and hypophyllanthincontents in calcium alginate immobilized cells obtained from fresh grown plants and MS medium was supplemented withdifferent abiotic elicitors,under aseptic conditions for the treatment with chitosan,copper sulphate,phenylalanine and silver nitratesolution to make the whole process commercially viable.It was revealed that silver nitrate and phenylalanine at low concentrationenhances phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin yield as compared to control immobilized cell culture.The study revealed that an increase inthe content of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin was elicitor concentration dependent and silver nitrate treatment gave a maximum yieldof hepatoprotective bioactives as compared to the other abiotic elicitors used.     

Methyl helicterate protects against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress,NF-κB activation,Fas/FasL pathway and cytochrome P4502E1 level

This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of the methyl helicterate (MH) isolated from Helicteres angustifolia L. against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicities in rats. Liver injury was induced in rats by the administration of CCl₄ twice a week for 8 weeks. Compared with the CCl₄ group, MH significantly decreased the activities of ALT, AST and ALP in the serum and increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd in the liver. Moreover, the content of hepatic MDA was reduced. Histological findings also confirmed the anti-hepatotoxic characterisation. In addition, MH significantly inhibited the proinflammatory mediators, such as PGE₂, iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Further investigation showed that the inhibitory effect of MH on the proinflammatory cytokines was associated with the downregulation of NF-κB. Besides, MH also markedly decreased the levels of Fas/FasL protein expression and the activities of caspase-3/8, as well as the activity of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1). In brief, the protective effect of MH against CCl₄-induced hepatic injury may rely on its ability to reduce oxidative stress, suppress inflammatory responses, protect against Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis and block CYP2El-mediated CCl₄ bioactivation.     

Protective Properties of Laggera alata Extract and its Principle Components Against d-Galactosamine-Injured Hepatocytes

Laggera alata extract (LAE) was quantitatively analyzed, and its principle components isochlorogenic acids were isolated and authenticated. Protective properties of LAE were studied using a d-galactosamine (d-GalN)-induced injury model in neonatal rat hepatocytes and a d-GalN-induced acute liver damage model in mice. Meanwhile, the effect of isochlorogenic acids derived from LAE on d-GalN-induced hepatocyte injury were also measured in vitro. LAE at concentrations of 10-100 μg/ml significantly reduced cellular leakage of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and improved cell viability. The isochlorogenic acids (4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid) at concentrations of 1-100 μg/ml also remarkably improved viability of hepatocytes. The oral treatment of LAE at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg markedly reduced the serum AST and ALT activity of mice and resulted in significant recovery of hepatocytes in liver sections.     

A review on ethnobotany,phytochemistry and pharmacology of Fumaria indica (Fumitory)

Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley (Fumariaceae), known as “Fumitory”, is an annual herb found as a common weed all over the plains of India and Pakistan. The whole plant is widely used in traditional and folkloric systems of medicine. In traditional systems of medicine, the plant is reputed for its anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, cholagogue, stomachic and sedative activities and is used to purify blood and in liver obstruction in ethnopharmacology. The whole plant is ascribed to possess medicinal virtues in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine and is also used in preparation of important Ayurvedic medicinal preparations and polyherbal liver formulations. The review reveals that phytochemical constituents of wide range have been separated from the plants and it possesses important pharmacological activities like smooth muscle relaxant, spasmogenic and spasmolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuropharmacological and antibacterial activities. The separation of hepatoprotective and antifungal constituents from this plant was also reported newly. This review highlights the traditional, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological information available on Fumaria indica, which might be helpful for scientists and researchers to find out new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses.