Abstract
Natural products from plants have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidants and hepatoprotective activities. The protective effects of aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats was investigated. Liver damage was induced in rats by administering a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil [3 ml/kg, subcutaneously (sc)] after pre-treatment for 7 days with AEPA. Hepatoprotective effects of AEPA was evaluated by estimating the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of total bilirubin (TBL). The effects of AEPA on biomarkers of oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant enzymes namely, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in liver post mitochondrial fraction. AEPA and Reducdyn® showed significant (p<0.05) hepatoprotective activity by decreasing the activities of ALT, AST, ALP and reducing the levels of TBL. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls were also decreased dose-dependently in the AEPA-treated rats. Pre-treatment with AEPA also decreased the serum levels of glutathione significantly. These data revealed that AEPA possesses significant hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced toxicity attributable to its constituent phytochemicals. The mechanism of hepatoprotection seems to be through modulation of antioxidant enzyme system.
Highlights
The experimental intoxication induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), is widely used for modeling liver injury in rats
The increase in the transaminases and alkaline phosphatase is a clear indication of cellular leakage and loss of functional integrity of the membrane resulting from liver damage (Saraswat et al, 1993)
This study demonstrated that pre-treatment of rats with aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) caused substantial decreases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin levels and this decline was significant for bilirubin at extract concentration of 200 mgkg-1 b. wt
Summary
The experimental intoxication induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), is widely used for modeling liver injury in rats. CCl4-induced damage is characterized by hepatocyte membrane damage, caused by lipid peroxidation, increased plasma levels of hepatic enzymes, fatty degeneration (steatosis i.e. accumulation of triglycerides in the liver), reduced ß-oxidation of fatty acids, and necrosis (Heimberg et al, 1962; Boll et al, 2001). Plant derived natural products have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties including antioxidants, and hepatoprotective activities (Banskota et al, 2000; Takeoka and Dao, 2003). This study was designed to assess the hepatoprotective and anti-oxidative properties of aqueous extract of Persea americana against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Natural products from plants have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidants and hepatoprotective activities. The protective effects of aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats was investigated.
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