<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> hepatoprotective compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda glauca</Emphasis>

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of Suaeda glauca yielded four phenolic compounds, methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate (1) and 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid (2), isorhamnetin 3-O-beta-D-galactoside (3), and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactoside (4). Compounds 1 and 2 were hepatoprotective against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells with the EC(50) values of 72.7+/-6.2 and 117.2+/-10.5 microM, respectively. Silybin as a positive control showed an EC(50) value of 82.4+/-4.1 microM.     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficus glomerata</Emphasis>

The present study was carried out to evaluate Ficus glomerata extracts for antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. The methanol extract of the bark of F. glomerata showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity when compared to the root methanol extract. In the in vivo studies, the CCl₄ treated control rats showed a significant alteration in the levels of antioxidant and hepatoprotective parameters. The methanol extract of the bark when given orally along with CCl₄ at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed a significant reversal of these biochemical changes towards the normal when compared to CCl₄-treated control rats in serum, liver and kidney. The results were comparable to those observed for standard sylimarin. Histological studies also confirmed the same. The results indicated the potent hepatoprotective and antioxidant nature of the bark extract.     

Antagonistic effects of Spirulina platensis against sub-acute deltamethrin toxicity in mice: Biochemical and histopathological studies

Spirulina platensis (SP); a microalga with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, acts as a food supplement in human and as many animal species. Deltamethrin (DLM) is a synthetic pyrethroid with broad spectrum activities against acaricides and insects and widely used for veterinary and agricultural purposes. Exposure to DLM leads to hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and neurotoxic side effects for human and many species, including birds and fish. The present study was undertaken to examine the potential hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of SP against sub-acute DLM toxicity in male mice. DLM intoxicated animals revealed a significant increase in serum hepatic and renal injury biomarkers as well as TNF-α level and AChE activity. Moreover, liver, kidney and brain lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress markers were altered due to DLM toxicity. Spirulina normalized the altered serum levels of AST, ALT, APL, LDH, γ-GT, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, creatinine AChE and TNF-α. Furthermore, it reduced DLM-induced tissue lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, that Spirulina supplementation could overcome DLM-induced hepatotoxicty, nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity by abolishing oxidative tissue injuries.     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Phaseolus trilobus,Ait on bile duct ligation induced liver fibrosis in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Phaseolus trilobus Ait (Fabaceae) is extensively used by tribal people of Nandurbar district (Maharashtra, India) in the treatment of Jaundice and other liver disorders.

Aim

of the present study was to assess the medicinal claim of Phaseolus trilobus as hepatoprotective and antioxidant.

Material and methods

The hepatoprotective activity of methanol and aqueous extract of Phaseolus trilobus was evaluated by bile duct ligation induced liver fibrosis and antioxidant activity was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo antioxidant models viz anti-lipid peroxidation assay, super oxide radical scavenging assay and glutathione estimation in liver. Liver function tests were carried out to detect hepatoprotective activity, which was further supported by histopathological examination.

Results

Methanol and aqueous extracts of Phaseolus trilobus reduced elevated level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin and hydroxyproline significantly (p < 0.01) in bile duct ligated Wistar rats, proving hepatoprotective activity comparable with Silymarin. Both the extracts were found to reduce the elevated levels of serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and elevate superoxide scavenging radical activity proving antioxidant activity comparable with ascorbic acid. The reduced level of glutathione was found to be elevated in liver proving antioxidant activity comparable with Silymarin.

Conclusion

Phaseolus trilobus posses hepatoprotective property and is effective in oxidative stress induced cholestatic hepatic injury.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of Arachniodes exilis (Hance) Ching

Aim of the study

The study was aimed to investigate the ethanol extract of Arachniodes exilis for the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.

Materials and methods

Antioxidant activity was evaluated by different assays, including reducing power, lipid peroxidation, 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. The hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract was studied on mice liver damage induced by CCL₄ by monitoring biochemical parameters.

Results

The extract showed potent activities on reducing power, lipid peroxide, DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. And oral administration of Arachniodes exilis at different doses resulted in significant improvement on the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, malondialchehyche and superoxidedismutase.

Conclusion

The results indicate that this plant possesses potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties and has therapeutic potential for the treatment of liver diseases.     

Hepatoprotective effect of Hypericum japonicum extract and its fractions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of different parts of Hypericum japonicum against carbon tetrachloride(CCl(4))-induced hepatitis and alpha-naphthyl-isothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were divided into groups and then administrated orally with solutions extracted from herbs before they were modeled in the experiments. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) in serum were evaluated. HPLC fingerprint was used for phytochemical analysis of the extracts. RESULTS: The total aqueous extract of Hypericum japonicum had an obvious effect on the decreasing of AST, ALT and T-BIL levels in serum. The isolated fraction IV (F4) exhibited a preferable activity of ameliorating cholestasis, while Fraction V (F5) was more efficacious in protecting liver from injury. Chemical fingerprint indicated that F5 contained several flavonoids which might be the active chemicals against hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Different fractions of Hypericum japonicum manifest different effect, indicating their different potentials as candidacies of new drugs.     

Effect of Laggera alata on hepatocyte damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in vitro and in vivo

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Laggera alata, as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used to ameliorate some ailments associated with inflammation including hepatitis in folk.

Aim of the study

Based on anti-inflammatory activity of total phenolics from Laggera alata (TPLA), to further validate the remarkable curative effect Laggera alata in hepatitis, hepatoprotective effect of TPLA was examined.

Materials and methods

TPLA was prepared and its principle components were quantificationally analyzed. The hepatoprotective effects of TPLA were studied using a CCl₄-induced injury model in primary cultured neonatal rat hepatocytes, and a CCl₄-induced acute and chronic damage model in vivo.

Results

TPLA significantly reduced cellular leakage of hepatocyte aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and improved cell viability in vitro. TPLA markedly decreased the serum AST and ALT levels of the mice, the levels of AST, ALT, total protein, albumin, and sialic acid in rat serum, and the hydroxyproline level in rat liver. Meanwhile, severe hepatic lesions induced by CCl₄ in mice/rats were remarkably improved by the administration of TPLA.

Conclusions

This investigation verifies the hepatoprotective effect of TPLA in vitro/in vivo and clarifies its active components dicaffeoylquinic acids responsible for hepatoprotective potential.     

Calotropis procera latex affords protection against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats

In the present study, latex of Calotropis procera possessing potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Subcutaneous injection of CCl(4,) administered twice a week, produced a marked elevation in the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Histological analysis of the liver of these rats revealed marked necro-inflammatory changes that were associated with increase in the levels of TBARS, PGE(2) and catalase and decrease in the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Daily oral administration of aqueous suspension of dried latex (DL) of Calotropis procera at 5, 50 and 100mg/kg doses produced a dose-dependent reduction in the serum levels of liver enzymes and inflammatory mediators and attenuated the necro-inflammatory changes in the liver. The DL treatment also normalized various biochemical parameters of oxidative stress. Our study shows that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of DL and silymarin were comparable and suggests that DL could be used as a hepatoprotective agent.     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Tetracera loureiri

Tetracera loureiri is one of the most valued herbs in Thai traditional medicine. In this study, we describe its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. The ethanol extract of T. loureiri possessed potent antioxidant and strong free radical scavenging properties assayed using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), respectively. The cytoprotective effects of T. loureiri were demonstrated in ethanolic extracts of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes against the chemical toxicants paracetamol and tertiary-butylhydroperoxide. The cells pretreated with the extract maintained the GSH/GSSG ratio and suppressed lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Pretreating rats with the ethanol extract orally, one hour prior to intraperitoneal injection of toxic doses of paracetamol, significantly prevented elevations of plasma ALT and AST. These results suggest that T. loureiri may be of potential therapeutic value in some liver disorders.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves

In present study, the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in rats. The extracts at dose of 200mg/kg were administered orally once daily. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP) and total bilirubin were restored towards normalization significantly by the extracts. Silymarin was used as standard reference and exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced haptotoxicity in rats. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. The results of this study strongly indicate that Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves have potent hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats. Ethanolic extract was found more potent hepatoprotective. Meanwhile, in vivo antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities were also screened which were positive for both ethanolic and aqueous extracts. This study suggests that possible mechanism of this activity may be due to free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities which may be due to the presence of flavonoids in the extracts.