Protective role of Cynanchum acutum L. extracts on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rat

Abstract

AIM: Evaluation of the hepatoprotective activity of Cynanchum acutum total alcohol and successive extracts. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Total alcohol extract and successive extracts (ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol) of C. acutum were evaluated at different doses for hepatoprotective activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatitis method was used. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (TB), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined to evaluate liver damage in rats. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferoni’s test to determine the intergroup variability by using SPSS version 14.0. RESULTS: Pre-treatment of rats with the investigated extract (50, 100, 200 mg/kg), successive extracts (10 mg/ kg) effectively protected rats against CCl4-induced hepatic damage, resulting in reduction in the elevated serum activities of liver marker enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) in addition to elevating the lowered serum levels of TP and Alb and lowering the serum levels of TB, triglyceride and cholesterol when compared with the normal control rats, where the total extract at dose 200 mg/kg was the most effective extract. Total alcohol extract (200 mg/kg) administrated daily to rats for 15 consecutive days did not show any alterations on liver and kidney functions. CONCLUSIONS: The high flavonoidal content of the investigated extract could be responsible for the potent hepatoprotective activity where the mechanism was related to the ability of the extract to inhibit lipid peroxidation in the liver by inhibiting the free radical mediated damage.