Hepatoprotective activity of praecoxin A isolated from Melaleuca ericifolia against carbon tetrachloride‐induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Impact on oxidative stress,inflammation, and apoptosis

The hepatoprotective activity of praecoxin A, an ellagitannin from Melaleuca ericifolia, was determined against CCl₄‐induced toxicity in mice. Praecoxin A was administered (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) for 5 days followed by CCl₄. Praecoxin A markedly ameliorated the CCl₄‐induced increase in AST (by 19, 52, and 56%), ALP (22, 45, and 48%), ALT (11, 47, and 54%), total bilirubin (14, 27, and 28%), and MDA (26, 44, and 51%) at the tested doses, respectively, as compared with CCl₄ group. It was evident that praecoxin A significantly (p < 0.001) increased the antioxidant parameters GSH (45, 99, and 137%) and SOD (61, 129, and 159%). Histological findings revealed a marked amelioration of hepatocyte degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and hemorrhage in the groups treated with praecoxin A. COX‐2 and caspase‐3 hepatic expressions were significantly downregulated (p < 0.001) in praecoxin A‐treated groups (up to 57, 83, and 93% for COX‐2 and by 30, 82, and 99% for caspase‐3). These findings suggest that praecoxin A exerts a beneficial effect against oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation, enhancing the antioxidant defense status, and protecting against the histopathological changes induced by CCl₄. This study highlights a promising natural hepatoprotective candidate derived from M. ericifolia that might be an alternative to silymarin.