The hepatoprotective effect of gooseberry and black mulberry extracts against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Shimaa Elmasry,Mahmoud Moawad

doi:10.1186/s41936-021-00224-z

Abstract

BackgroundLiver is the vital organ of the human body responsible for nutrition, immunity, and metabolism. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is an environmental pollutant that causes hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of gooseberry and black mulberry on liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats.ResultsCCl4 caused significant (P≤0.05) elevation in the liver function tests and hydroxyproline (a major marker of fibrosis); also, there was a significant increase in the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and plasma inflammatory biomarkers, whereas a significant decrease in the hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and plasma adiponectin levels was observed in the CCl4-treated group compared with control. These results were also confirmed by histological examination of liver tissue. Administration of gooseberry or black mulberry extracts alone decreased the hepatic level of hydroxyproline, ameliorated the antioxidant/oxidant status in liver tissue, and decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to normal control. Treatment with the tested extracts along with CCl4 was effectively able to ameliorate the abovementioned imbalances induced by CCl4 and protect the liver tissue.ConclusionThese results indicate that gooseberry and black mulberry extracts have a hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats.

Highlights

Liver is the vital organ of the human body responsible for nutrition, immunity, and metabolism
Gooseberry and black mulberry extract markedly reduced the liver weight and hepatosomic index in treated groups when compared with the Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group
Our results indicated that administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of both berries at a daily dose of 250 mg/kg b.wt for 5 weeks induced hepatic protection against CCl4 and was associated with reduced the biomarkers of liver injury and oxidative stress and reduced cytokine content associated with inflammation and ameliorated liver architecture

Summary

Introduction

Liver is the vital organ of the human body responsible for nutrition, immunity, and metabolism. Results: CCl4 caused significant (P≤0.05) elevation in the liver function tests and hydroxyproline (a major marker of fibrosis); there was a significant increase in the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and plasma inflammatory biomarkers, whereas a significant decrease in the hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and plasma adiponectin levels was observed in the CCl4-treated group compared with control. These results were confirmed by histological examination of liver tissue. The flavonoids compound of black mulberry has been shown to have hepatoprotective activity as previously reported (Mallhi, Qadir, Khan, & Ali, 2014)

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