Abstract
Objective: Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) from fish oil is known to have numerous health benefits including antiinflammatory and antioxidant actions. With the intention of producing an alternative source to fish EPA, we have microbially synthesized EPA (mEPA) from rice bran oil, spectroscopically analysed and was pharmacologically evaluated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mEPA on various hepatic enzyme biomarkers in experimentally induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Animals were divided into 7 groups of six animals each; control being treated with vehicle, another group with standard (Silymarin; 25 mg/kg per day, p.o.); 3 groups with mEPA (5, 10 and 50 mg/kg p. o.) and one with fish oil (1 g/ kg p. o.) for 15 days. The hepatotoxicity was induced in all groups except control by single dose of CCl4 mixed with olive oil as vehicle in 1:1 ratio (3 ml/kg of rat body weight) on 5th day. Biochemical assays for SGOT, SGPT, ALP and total bilirubin were performed using serum samples. The histopathology of liver of all groups was carried out to compare the pathological changes. Results: The serum levels of SGPT, SGPT, ALP and total bilirubin were found to be increased in the CCl4 induced hepatotoxic sham control group which were significantly lowered down in the treated groups. The treatment with 50 mg/ kg dose has shown maximum inhibition in enzyme levels and regenerative changes with maintained hepatic architecture compared with standard and fish oil. Conclusion: Thus, microbially synthesized EPA from rice bran oil has shown promising hepato-protective effect and can fulfil the need of alternative source of EPA to fish oil.
Highlights
Liver is involved in several vital functions and it has a great capacity to detoxify the toxic substances and synthesize useful principles
Liver injury can be diagnosed by certain biochemical markers like Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) or Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT), Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) or Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin [1]
Liver weights were significantly reduced in animals treated with 50 mg/ kg microbially synthesized EPA (mEPA) (4.20 ± 0.62 gm), silymarin (4.24 ± 0.77 g) and fish oil (4.85 ± 0.21 gm) (Table 1)
Summary
Liver is involved in several vital functions and it has a great capacity to detoxify the toxic substances and synthesize useful principles. Hepatotoxic chemicals cause oxidative stress, glutathione depletion and elevation of hepatic biomarker enzymes [2]. The hepatotoxins produce a wide variety of clinical and histopathological indicators of hepatic injury. Carbon tetrachloride is said to induce hepatotoxicity in rats, rabbits and humans after being metabolised to trichloromethyl free radical which causes peroxidative degradation in the adipose tissue resulting in fatty infiltration of the hepatocytes. Trichloromethyl free radicals elicit lipid peroxidation of membrane lipids in the presence of oxygen generated by metabolic leakage from mitochondria. These events lead to liver damage by loss of cell membrane integrity [1]. Elevations in serum enzyme levels are taken as the relevant indicators of liver toxicity. In spite of tremendous research in modern medicine, there are hardly any specific drugs that stimulate or protect liver function or help hepatic regeneration [3]
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