Abstract
Purpose: To determine the in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective effects of Ficus carica.Methods: The methanol leaf extract of Ficus carica L was further fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. For in vivo study, male albino mice were divided into twelve groups. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the mice using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The extract of F. carica and its fractions were administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Silymarin was used as standardhepatoprotective drug. The protective effects of the extract and fractions were determined via assay of biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes in the liver. The histopathology of the liver was also studied. Moreover, the in vitro hepatoprotective effect of the extract and fractions against CCl4-induced damage was determined in HepG2 cell line.Results: There were significant increases in the serum levels of liver biomarkers in CCl4-treated group, whereas treatments with plant extract and fractions significantly reduced the levels of these parameters (p < 0.05). In addition, results from histopathology revealed evidence of protective effect of Ficus carica through reversal of CCl4-induced decreases in the activities of liver antioxidant enzymes.Conclusion: These results indicate that methanol leaf extract of Ficus carica L. and its fractions exert significant and dose-dependent hepatoprotective effects in vivo and in vitro.
 Keywords: Ficus carica, Hepatoprotection, Carbon tetrachloride, Liver biomarkers
Highlights
The least hepatoprotective potential was exhibited by the n-hexane fraction
The results revealed that CCl4 toxicity decreased cell viability to 39.23 %, when compared to 99.9 % viability in normal control, indicating that CCl4 was very toxic to the cells
We declare that this work was done by the authors named in this article, and all liabilities pertaining to claims relating to the content of this article will be borne by the authors
Summary
Approximately 2 % of total deaths are due to liver disorders. The liver is a vital organ which performs many functions such as storage, metabolism, secretion and detoxification. The liver is the largest organ in humans, and it is susceptible to chemical-induced toxicity. Hepatic damage is initiated by over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) interact with, and modify biomolecules such as proteins, lipids and DNA, resulting in various degenerative diseases.
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