Abstract
Eriobotrya japonica is traditionally used as an antipyretic, digestive, and diuretic agent. Its flowers possess free radical–scavenging, antioxidative, and hepatoprotective effects. We investigated the hepatoprotective potential of E. japonica leaf extract and its various fractions against hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver injury was stimulated by the oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 2.5 mL/kg b.wt.). Male albino rats (n = 55) were distributed arbitrarily into 11 groups: Group I, normal control group; Group II, CCl4 (positive control group); Group III, CCl4 + silymarin; Groups IV and V, CCl4 + two doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of the 80% methanolic extract of E. japonica leaves, respectively; Groups VI and VII, CCl4 + 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate fraction, respectively; Groups VIII and IX, CCl4 + 250 and 500 mg/kg of the butanol fraction, respectively; and Groups X and XI, CCl4 + 250 and 500 mg/kg of the aqueous fraction of E. Japonica leaves, respectively. CCl4-treated rats that were given 250 or 500 mg/kg of the methanol extract of E. Japonica leaves, or its ethyl acetate, butanol, or aqueous fractions, had significantly lower levels of biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphate, total protein, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin levels than those of the CCl4 positive group. However, the extract and fractions did not significantly affect lipid profiles. Thus, we conclude that Eriobotrya leaf extract and its fractions have a hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Highlights
Medicinal plants and their extracts represent a rich source of crude medications that possess therapeutic properties
Eriobotrya japonica originated in southeast China, but it is grown in India, Japan, Korea, and other countries
Serum alkaline phosphate (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), ALT, gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), and bilirubin levels were considerably higher in the CCl4 group than in the control group
Summary
Medicinal plants and their extracts represent a rich source of crude medications that possess therapeutic properties. The World Health Organization reports that various plant fractions and their dynamic constituents are utilized as traditional medicines by 80% of the world population [1]. One such plant is Eriobotrya japonica, commonly known as loquat, an evergreen plant that belongs to the family Rosaceae. Eriobotrya japonica originated in southeast China, but it is grown in India, Japan, Korea, and other countries. It is small in size, with narrow leaves that are light in color on the underside and darker green on the upper surface. In Japan, loquat leaves have traditionally been used as antipyretic, digestive, and diuretic agents [3]
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