Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Dur. Attenuates acrylamide-induced hepatic injury through enhancing autophagy and inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptotic signaling

Abstract

In our study, we investigated the potential of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Dur. (Al) seed extract and essential oil (Al oil) to mitigate acrylamide-induced liver injury in rats. We administered the extract (100 and 200 mg/kg), essential oil (0.25 mL/kg) or the reference drug (silymarin, 100 mg/kg) for four days. On the fourth day, liver injury was induced by acrylamide (25 mg/kg, PO), continuing treatment for seven more days. We assessed liver enzymes, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, apoptotic and autophagy markers, and conducted histopathological examinations. The extract and essential oil ameliorated functional and structural alterations caused by acrylamide, reduced oxidative and ER stress, inhibited apoptosis, and enhanced autophagy. The high-dose extract showed effects like silymarin, potentially attributed to its phenolic contents. These activities indicated the hepatoprotective potential of A. leucotrichus extract and essential oil against xenobiotics-induced liver damage, supporting their use as nutraceuticals against oxidative stress-related disorders.