Hepatoprotective effect of a polyherbal formulation (Aab-e-Murawaqain) against CCl4 induced liver toxicity in Wistar albino rat model by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines

Abstract

This study assessed the hepatoprotective action of Aab-e-Murawaqain in Wistar albino rats by inducing liver injury with carbon tetra chloride (CCl 4 ) (2 mL/kg; sc). Aqueous extracts of Solanum nigrum (Makoy) and Cichorium intybus (Kashni) were used to prepare the Aab-e-Murawaqain polyherbal formulation. Silymarin (25 mg/kg), a well-known liver protective medicine, was treated as the reference control group. Biochemical indicators, such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin, were used to assess the curative potential. Other common biomarkers, such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT), were also estimated. Animals treated with CCl 4 exhibited significantly enhanced in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, and TBARS level, reflecting hepatic damage. The formulation considerably minimised the increase serum enzyme levels, indicating the improvement in liver cellular injury. CCl 4 induced significant decrease in GSH, SOD, and CAT levels. Pretreatment of the rats with the formulation led to an increase in hepatic GSH, SOD, CAT, protein, and albumin levels. Moreover, CCl 4 administration led to an increase in TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels, which decreased with polyherbal formulation treatment. The results were validated through histological evolutions, which revealed minimum fatty variations and a noticeable regenerative effect in the livers after treatment with the formulation. The results confirmed that Aab-e-Murawaqain can provide a substantial activity in the management of CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity.