In vitro hepatoprotective activity of Eichhornia Crassipes flowers against CCl4 induced toxicity in BRL3A cell line

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract from Eichhornia crassipes (EEEC) flowers using the CCl4-challenged BRL3A cell model. Hepatoprotective activity of EEEC (at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) and standard drug silymarin (200 μg/mL) was evaluated against CCl4 induced toxicity using BRL3A cell line by measuring the cell viability, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione level (GSH). Treatment with CCl4 produced a significant decrease in cell viability. In addition, hepatotoxicity was revealed by increased hepatic marker enzymes like AST, ALT and LDH paralleled with elevated lipid peroxidation and decline in GSH levels. The toxicity induced by CCl4 in the BRL3A cells was significantly recovered by treatment with EEEC. The tested doses (100 and 200 μg/mL) significantly (P <0.01) reduced the CCl4 induced elevation of AST, ALT and LDH and also restored the altered biochemical parameters. These findings provide a basis for confirming the traditional uses of E. crassipes in treating liver ailments.