Abstract
In the present study, we assessed the effect of the cassava leaf flour (CLF) extract on the antioxidant activity and liver injury in rats. For the extract preparation, the CLF was kept under maceration in 50% ethanol at a 1:40 ratio (w/v) for 30 min. and then centrifuged at 2,500 x g for 15 min. The supernatant was collected and the precipitate was again subjected to the extraction process with 70% acetone, as described above; the supernatants were collected, rotoevaporated for removal of solvents and lyophilized to give the extract. The animals received intraperitoneal doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and daily doses of the extract by gavage. After the treatment, we tested the activity of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and lipid peroxidation, determining the concentration of albumin and serum protein, total lipids and liver histopathology. Treatment with the CLF extract was capable of inhibiting damage induced by CCl4, presenting a lower degree of steatosis. Protection was demonstrated by the lower activities of serum enzymes in liver damage, such as AST, ALT and GGT, low levels of lipid peroxidation and histopathological observation. These actions were attributed to phenolic compounds, such as gallic acid, gallocatechin, catechin and chlorogenic acid found in the CLF extract. Key words: Manihot esculenta, leaves, phenolic compounds, carbon tetrachloride, enzyme, lipid peroxidation.
Highlights
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a hepatotoxin that has been used to induce liver fibrosis in animals
One of the major consequences of liver injury caused by CCl4 is lipid peroxidation, which is mediated by the production of free radicals derived from CCl4 and, when repeatedly administered in a low dose, induces liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (Muriel and Escobar, 2003)
These activated radicals can bind covalently to macromolecules and induce peroxidative degradation of lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. This leads to the formation of lipid peroxides. The toxicity of this compound can be evidenced by an elevation of serum marker enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) (Palanivel et al, 2008)
Summary
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a hepatotoxin that has been used to induce liver fibrosis in animals. The hepatotoxic effects of CCl4 are largely due to its active metabolite, trichloromethyl radical. These activated radicals can bind covalently to macromolecules and induce peroxidative degradation of lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. This leads to the formation of lipid peroxides. Among the various classes of naturally occurring antioxidants, phenolic compounds have received much attention in recent years, especially by inhibiting in vitro lipid peroxidation (Naczk and Shahidi, 2004; Soares, 2002). The present study was performed to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the CLF extract against liver injury induced by CCl4 in Fischer rats
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