Hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract and fractions of African mistletoe Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) from Nigeria

Hepatoprotective Action of Dehydrozingerone in Carbon Tetrachloride and Thioacetamide-induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Study of Silymarin on Ethanol Induced Hepatotoxicity and Expression of Bcl-2, Bax and p53 Levels

BackgroundThe liver is the vital organ which plays a major role in metabolism with numerous functions in the human beings such as protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification. Present research work is focused on hepatoprotective potential of chloroform (PNFC) and ethyl acetate (PNFEA) endophytic fractions from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in albino Wistar rats. To test our hypothesis, both endophytic fungal fractions were tested for vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective activity. Serum biochemical parameters like SGOT, SGOT, SALP, cholesterol, bilirubin, and protein were estimated to assess hepatoprotective activity.ResultsGroup of rats treated with CCl4 possess marked hepatic damage and oxidative stress which indicates that cellular leakage and loss of functional integrity of cell membrane in liver. PNFC and PNFEA fractions of endophyte from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. stem have significantly reduced the elevated levels of biomarkers like SGPT, SGOT, SALP, bilirubin, cholesterol, and total protein in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The results obtained confirm hepatoprotective activity of endophytic fractions (PNFC and PNFEA) mediated through the stabilization of plasma membrane, repair of hepatic tissue damage, return of biochemical marker levels to normal, and regeneration of hepatocytes. Histopathological observations revealed improvement in the liver architecture after the treatment of secondary metabolites of endophytic fractions against CCl4-induced liver damage. Both fungal endophytes PNFC and PNFEA showed DPPH scavenging activity with IC50 of 97.79 μg/ml and 108.40 μg/ml, respectively, and possess antioxidant potential. Presence of flavonoids in the both fractions of endophytes may be a possible reason for its antioxidant potential and identified as Eurotium amstelodami strain.ConclusionBoth fungal endophytes PNFC and PNFEA possess hepatoprotective potential due to the presence of secondary metabolites of fungi, i.e., Eurotiumam stelodami strain which support the claim endophytes and act as a potent biomedicine for treatment of various chronic diseases.

Mangifera indica (Tommy Atkins) peels, commonly known as mango, is a pharmacologically, ethnomedically, and phytochemically diverse plant. Peels is a major by-product during processing of mango fruit into pulp. In the present study, Thirteen pure bioactive compounds were isolated from methanolic peels extract. Six of them are new ellagitannins,namely,1,2,3,4,6 -Penta-O-galloyl-s-4C1-glupyranose (3); 2,3,6-Tri-O-galloyl-(α/β)-4C1-glucopyranose(4); 2,3-Di-O-galloyl-(α/β)-4C1-glucopyranose,Nilocitin(6);3,6-Di-O-galloyl-(α/β)-4C1-glucopyranose(8);1,6 -Di-O-galloyl- β-4C1-glucopyranose (9) ; 1,3-Di-O-galloyl-β-4C1- glucose (11), which were analyzed for the first time from M. indica (Tommy Atkins) peels. The ameliorative effect of the methanolic extract of M. indica (Tommy Atkins) peels towards the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats through measuring certain biochemical parameters content in the liver were analyzed. The CCl4-treated rats showed a significant decline in the studied the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), albumin (A) as well as the hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH) and activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , glutathione reductase (GR), elevation in the levels of total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), globulin (G), total bilirubin (TBil) , alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase (ALAT and ASAT, ALP) and the hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). In contrast, the administration of methanol extract, notably improved all the studied parameters. This study showed that CCl4 administration to Wistar rats, at a high dose level, could induce a hepatic injury in addition to certain metabolic alterations. The work was extended to investigate tissue histopathology. Thus, results suggest that the peels extract can be a potential source of an attractive candidate for ameliorating of hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 through scavenging free radicals, improved liver functions, and normalizing the liver histopathological architecture.

The available conventional remedies for the treatment of drug-induced liver diseases are highly inadequate and possess serious adverse effects; therefore, the development of new, effective drugs is considered necessary. This article explores the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of 7-methylcoumarin (MC) and 7-methoxycoumarin (MOC) in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. MC and MOC individually, at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, were administered orally once-daily for 7 days. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum bilirubin (TB), total protein (TP), and albumin (TA). Serum antioxidant enzyme [e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] levels were determined. Also, thiobarbituric-acid–related substances (TBARS) levels, along with histopathological studies of liver tissue, were scrutinized. Pretreatment with MC and MOC significantly decreased ALT, AST, and TB in the serum of CCl4-induced liver damaged rats in a dose-dependent manner. TA and TP levels in the serum were also restored significantly in all presupplemented MC and MOC groups. In addition, oxidative stress induced by CCl4 was prevented significantly; thereby, increasing SOD and CAT levels and decreasing TBARS levels in liver homogenates. Histopathological studies revealed the ameliorative natures of both the compounds. This study demonstrates the strong hepatoprotective activity of MC and MOC, which could be attributed to their potent antioxidant effects.

Liver diseases pose a major challenge to international public health. Hepatic damage is associated with distortion of metabolic functions of the liver. The present study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the ethanolic extract of whole plant of Andrographis paniculata in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of 30 % CCl4 suspended in olive oil (1 ml /kg b.w.) after every 72 h for 10 days (group II). Hepatotoxicity-induced rats were treated with 200 mg/kg b.w. of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata for 10 days, and also, CCl4 was given as in group II rats. The effect of the drug was compared with the standard drug silymarin. The effect of the ethanolic extract of whole plant of A. paniculata on marker enzymes, serum glucose, urea, creatinine, serum bilirubin total protein, A/G ratio, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lipid profile and antioxidants was determined. Treatment with A. paniculata extract showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, marker enzymes and also lipid profile. The drug significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of hepatotoxic rats. The results of the present study suggest that treatment with A. paniculata extract enhanced the recovery from CCl4-induced hepatic damage due to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective property.

Phenolic compounds and hepatoprotective potential of Anastatica hierochuntica ethanolic and aqueous extracts against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Ficus plants have traditionally been used as potential remedies for treating various diseases. Hepatotoxicity is one of the severe threats to human health which must be adequately cured. The study was planned to investigate the hepato-protective potential of methanolic extracts of fruit and leaves of Ficus carica and Ficus benghalensis against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in an experimental rat model. The study was planned using a randomized control design (RCD). The study included 6 groups of animals (n= 5 per group) having average body weight (230±20 g), out of which 5 groups were treated with CCl4 (15 µL kg-1 body weight), and the remaining one was left as healthy control. Four of the five CCl4-treated groups were administered individually with fruit and leaf extracts (25 mg kg-1 body weight) of F. carica and F. benghalensis, while the fifth was left as CCl4-treated control. The total serum bilirubin (TSB), total serum protein (TSP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of the control group during the treatment period ranged from 0.54±0.16 to 0.59±0.15 mgdL-1, 8.56±0.73 to 8.66±0.75 gdL-1, 46.00±21.41 to 49.41±22.68 UL-1, 41.6±13.99 to 44.41±13.16 UL-1, and 139.80±28.72 to 145.62±28.82 UL-1, respectively. CCl4 administration significantly (p<0.05) increased the TSB, ALT, AST, and ALP levels in the range of 1.48±0.30-2.30±0.19 mgdL-1, 147.6±34.22 to 233.81±14.94 UL-1, 118.8±15.88 to 167.8±16.4143 UL-1, and 213.8±21.46 to 260±26.664 UL-1, respectively. The elevated TSB, ALT, AST, and ALP levels were significantly (p<0.05) decreased after F. carica and F. benghalens extract treatment to 1.06±0.15-1.70±0.21 mgdL-1, 115.00±28.19-190.21±25.68 UL-1, 89.8±16.29-111.8±23.81 UL-1, and 195.38±42.29-218.4±35.02 UL-1 respectively. Moreover, TSP level was significantly decreased after CCl4 administration and improved after extract treatment. It was concluded that methanolic extract from the leaf and fruit of both F. benghalensis and F. carica protects against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Keywords: Hepatoprotective potential, Ficus carica, Ficus benghalensis, Hepatic damage, Experimental rat model

White butterfly (Clerodendrum volubile) leaf extract protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of aerial parts of Artemisiadracunculus (HAAD) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 20-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Rats were pre-treated with either 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of HAAD or silymarin (100 mg/kg; served as the positive control group) for 15 days and they received a single dose of CCl4 on the last day. Hepatoprotective effects were investigated by assessment of serum biochemical enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST and GSH), along with histopathological studies. Total phenolic content was 197.22±3.73 mg gallic acid equivalent/g HAAD dry weight. HAAD indicated powerful activity in FRAP, DPPH and ABTS tests. Acute toxicity study showed that the extract had an LD50 of >5000 mg/kg. Oral treatment with HAAD exhibited a significant decrease in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TB and an increase in the level of TP. The extract significantly diminished MDA levels. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly augmented in rats pretreated with HAAD 200 mg/kg. Histopathological examination demonstrated lower liver damage in HAAD-treated groups as compared to CCl4 groups. Our findings indicated hepatoprotective effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. dracunculus on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats and suggested that these effects may be produced by reducing oxidative stress.

It has been proposed carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) intoxication due to the production of free radicals and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) overload results hepatotoxicity. Phosphatidylserine (PS) has shown antioxidant activity in numerous studies. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of PS liposomes treatment against the CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. Male Wistar rats were treated with PS (10 mg/kg, oral) or phosphatidylcholine liposomes (PC) (10 mg/kg, oral) for 3 days before CCl4 (2 ml/kg; ip once on the third day) injection. The serum level of ALT, AST, and ALP were measured. Also, antioxidant assays were performed. Administration of PS with CCl4 significantly inhibited alterations in the serum levels of AST, ALP (** P < 0.01), and ALT (*** P < 0.001) compared with control group. Furthermore, measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels indicated that PS significantly reduced reactive oxygen species. The results of the present study showed the hepatoprotective effects of PS against CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Hepatoprotective naphthalene diglucoside from Neanotis wightiana aerial parts

Objective: Punarnavashtak kwath (PNK) is a classical Ayurvedic formulation, mentioned in Ayurvedic literature Bhaishajya Ratnavali, for hepatic disorders and asthma. This study investigated the hepatoprotective activity of PNK to validate the traditional use of this formulation.Materials and methods: PNK was prepared in the laboratory according to the method given in Ayurvedic literature. Phytochemical screening was performed to determine the presence of phytoconstituents. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and by its effect on the HepG2 cell line.Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and a bitter principle in PNK. Administration of PNK produced significant hepatoprotective effect as demonstrated by decreased levels of serum liver marker enzymes such as aspartate transaminase, serum alanine transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, and serum bilirubin and an increase in protein level. Thiopentone-induced sleeping time was also decreased in the PNK-treated animals compared with the CCl4-treated group. It also showed antioxidant activity by increase in activity of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and by a decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level compared with the CCl4-treated group. Results of a histopathological study also support the hepatoprotective activity of PNK. Investigation carried out on the HepG2 cell line depicted significant increase in viability of cells exposed to PNK as compared with CCl4-treated cells.Discussion and Conclusion: It can be concluded that PNK protects hepatocytes from CCl4-induced liver damages due to its antioxidant effect on hepatocytes. An in vitro study on HepG2 cell lines also supports its protective effect.

The current study was evaluated for the hepatoprotective activity of probiotics, prebiotics alone, and synbiotic of them. Animals were grouped into 12 groups (n = 6), i.e. normal control (NC), disease control (DC), treatment with prebiotics, probiotics alone, and synbiotic of them, and standard marketed hepatoprotective Silymarin along with Synbiotic 2000. All treatments were orally administered daily for 28 days. On the 28th day, all animals except the NC group received carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1 ml/kg, i.p.). Levels of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and urea were evaluated. The tissues were evaluated for oxidative markers levels of catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and glutathione (GSH), and total protein. Histopathology of tissues was carried out. Compositional analysis of intestinal microbiota was done by 16S amplicon sequencing. CCl4 caused elevation in SGPT, SGOT, ALP, total bilirubin, urea, and lactate dehydrogenase in the DC group which was prevented with pretreatment of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics. Total protein was decreased in serum and tissues after administration of CCl4 which was restored with pretreatment of test substances. Oxidative marker LPO was increased in the DC group and catalase (CAT) and GSH were also depleted in liver tissue. These changes were prevented in pretreated test groups. The histological change in hepatic parenchyma and hepatocytes was minimal in test groups compared to DC. The 16S amplicon sequencing indicated that Lactobacillus acidophilus and prebiotic treatment effectively displaced Staphylococcus. Results suggested that the use of prebiotics, probiotics alone, and synbiotic of them has a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Phyllanthus niruri L. is a widespread tropical plant which is used in Ayurvedic system for liver and kidney ailments. The present study aims at specifying the most active hepatoprotective extract of P. niruri and applying a bio-guided protocol to identify the active compounds responsible for this effect. P. niruri aerial parts were extracted separately with water, 50%, 70% and 80% ethanol. The cytoprotective activity of the extracts was evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in clone-9 and Hepg2 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aqueous extract (AE) was accomplished for the isolation of the active compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The in vivo hepatoprotective activity of AE was evaluated in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats at different doses after determination of its LD50. Pretreatment of clone-9 and Hepg2 with different concentrations of AE (1, 0.1, 0.01 mg/ml) had significantly reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) against CCl4 injures, and restored the activity of the natural antioxidants; glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) towards normalization. Fractionation of AE gave four fractions (I-IV). Fractions I, II, and IV showed a significant in vitro hepatoprotective activity. Purification of I, II and IV yielded seven compounds; corilagin C1, isocorilagin C2, brevifolin C3, quercetin C4, kaempferol rhamnoside C5, gallic acid C6, and brevifolin carboxylic acid C7. Compounds C1, C2, C5, and C7 showed the highest (p< 0.001) hepatoprotective potency, while C3, C4, and C6 exhibited a moderate (p< 0.001) activity. The AE exhibited strong antioxidant DPPH (IC50 11.6 ± 2 μg/ml) and FRAP (79.352 ± 2.88 mM Ferrous equivalents) activity. In vivo administration of AE in rats (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) caused normalization of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC), triglycyrides (TG), total bilirubin (TB), glucose, total proteins (TP), urea and creatinine levels which were elevated by CCl4. AE also decreased TNF-α, NF-KB, IL-6, IL-8, IL10 and COX-2 expression, and significantly antagonizes the effect of CCl4 on the antioxidant enzymes SOD, catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSP). The histopathological study also supported the hepatoprotective effect of AE. P. niruri isolates exhibited a potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in clone-9 and Hepg2 cell lines through reduction of lipid peroxidation and maintaining glutathione in its reduced form. This is attributable to their phenolic nature and hence antioxidative potential.