Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective properties of Helianthus annuus seed extract against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity

Abstract

This experiment aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seeds against paracetamol induced liver injury. Four groups of rats (n = 3) were used and administered orally once daily with H. annus methanolic extract (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) for 7 days, followed by the induction of hepatotoxicity using acetaminophen. The blood and liver samples were subjected to liver function biochemical and lipid peroxidation assay. The extract was also subjected to in-vitro antioxidant study using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were also evaluated. The extract was found to have a total flavonoids of 7.72 ± 2.3 mg/g quercetin equivalence and total phenolic content of 40.60244 ± 1.14 mg/g Gallic acid equivalence. H. annus methanolic extract exhibited a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme levels. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity and contained high total phenol content. H. annus methanol extract was found to possess a potential hepatoprotective activity that could be partly attributed to its antioxidant activity and high phenolic content.