A Screening Study of Hepatoprotective Activity of Liquid Extract from Common Tansy Tanacetum vulgare L. Herb in the setting of Subchronic Hepatitis in Rats

Abstract

The number of patients with pathology of the hepatobiliary system is growing steadily every year, and the main etiological factors that cause the disease are action of drugs, organic solvents, salts of heavy metals, and environmental pollution. Regardless of etiology of hepatobiliary system diseases, given common features of their pathogenesis, the leading role in treatment belongs to hepatoprotectors. The aim of the study is to substantiate the existence of the hepatoprotective properties of liquid extract from common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) herb. The task set is solved by studying hepatoprotective activity of liquid extract from common tansy herb on the model subchronic liver damage. A pathology model was reproduced by introduction of carbon tetrachloride in combination with alcohol. The liquid extract of common tansy herb tested was administered in the therapeutic mode at doses of 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg/kg. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by extract' effect on regulation of prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance and activity of transminases, cytolysis markers. A beneficial effect of liquid extract of common tansy herb on the course of subchronic toxic hepatitis at a dose-leader ? 75 mg/kg has been determined, as evidenced by increased content of reduced glutathione (1.4-fold) accompanied by significant decrease of transminases (1.3-fold) and decreased content of TBA-AP (1.5-fold). The mechanism of hepatoprotective action of liquid extract of common tansy herb is probably conditioned by binding of toxic free radicals and stabilizing of cell membranes by phenolic compounds present in its composition (luteolin, rutin, apigenin, apigenin-7-glucoside, hyperoside, chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids). Further studies of liquid extract of common tansy herb at a dose of 75 mg/kg aimed at development of a hepatoprotective agent is recommended.