Activities Of Liver Marker Enzymes Research Articles

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of Sphaeranthus indicus against acetaminophen–induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn (Asteraceae) a traditional Indian medicinal plant is commonly used to nourish and improve the liver conditions. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of aqueous (AQS) and methanolic (MES) extract of flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus on Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced heptotoxicity in rat’s in-vivo. Activities of liver marker enzymes ,glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bilirubin and total protein at an oral dose of MES (300mg/kg) showed a significant hepatoprotective effect in comparison with the same dose of aqueous extract. This fact was also confirmed by studying the liver histopathology of treated animals. As Regards the antioxidant activity, MES exhibited a significant effect showing increasing levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxides (GPX) by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

Influence of Hibiscus sabdariffa on the rhythmic alterations of liver markers in experimental hyperammonemic rats

Our aim of the present study is to analyze the influence of Hibiscus sabdariffa, an indigenous edible medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine in India, on the circadian alterations of hepatic marker enzymes in ammonium chloride (AC) induced hyperammonemic rats. Adult male Wistar rats (160 – 180 g) were divided into control, AC (daily i.p. injection of AC (100 mg/kg)) treated, AC + H. sabdariffa ethanolic leaf extract (HSEt) (250 mg/kg) treated and HSEt treated groups. Temporal characteristics (acrophase, amplitude and mesor) of liver marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate and alanine transaminases (ALT and AST) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), were analyzed. Elevated liver marker enzymes (increased mesor and delayed acrophase of AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) were found in hyperammonemic rats. Administration of HSEt significantly alters the activities of liver marker enzymes. Variations in acrophase, amplitude and ‘r’ values were also found between the control and experimental rats. The detectable circadian rhythms of hepatic marker enzymes and their alterations during AC/HSEt treatments, in the current study, deserve further investigation for the diagnosis and the therapeutic efficacy of hyperammonemia.

Hepatic endogenous defense potential of propolis after mercury intoxication

Exposure to mercuric chloride (HgCl(2) ; 5 mg kg(-1) body weight; i.p.) induced oxidative stress in mice and substantially increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, decreased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and various antioxidant enzymes in liver and also increased the activities of liver marker enzymes in serum. Therapy with propolis extract, a resinous wax-like beehive product (200 mg kg(-1) orally, after mercury administration), for 3 days inhibited LPO and the formation of GSSG and increased the level of GSH in the liver. Release of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly restored after propolis treatment. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, that is, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were also concomitantly restored towards normal levels after propolis administration. These observations clearly demonstrate that propolis treatment augments antioxidant defense against mercury-induced toxicity and provide evidence that propolis has therapeutic potential as a hepatoprotective agent.

Influence of Piper betle on hepatic marker enzymes and tissue antioxidant status in D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxic rats

D-galactosamine is a well-established hepatotoxicant that induces a diffuse type of liver injury closely resembling human viral hepatitis. D-galactosamine by its property of generating free radicals causes severe damage to the membrane and affects almost all organs of the human body. The leaves of Piper betle L., a commonly used masticatory in Asian countries, possess several biological properties. Our aim is to investigate the in vivo antioxidant potential of P. betle leaf-extract against oxidative stress induced by D-galactosamine intoxication in male albino Wistar rats. Toxicity was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine, 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 21 days. Rats were treated with P. betle extract (200 mg/kg BW) via intragastric intubations. We assessed the activities of liver marker enzymes (aspartate amino-transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) and levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced glutathione. The extract significantly improved the status of antioxidants and decreased TBARS, hydroperoxides, and liver marker enzymes when compared with the D-galactosamine treated group, demonstrating its hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties.

Cajanus cajan Linn. (Leguminosae) prevents alcohol-induced rat liver damage and augments cytoprotective function

Aim of the study Cajanus cajan Linn. (Leguminosae) is a nontoxic edible herb, widely used in Indian folk medicine for the prevention of various liver disorders. In the present study we have demonstrated that methanol-aqueous fraction (MAF2) of Cajanus cajan leaf extract could prevent the chronically treated alcohol induced rat liver damage. Materials and Methods Chronic doses of alcohol (3.7g/ kg) orally administered to rats for 28 days and liver function marker enzymes such as GPT, GOT, ALP and anti-oxidant enzyme activities were determined. Effect of MAF2 at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight on alcohol treated rats was noted. Results Alcohol effected significant increase in liver marker enzyme activities and reduced the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes. Co-administration of MAF2 reversed the liver damage due to alcohol; it decreased the activities of liver marker enzymes and augmented antioxidant enzyme activities. We also demonstrate significant decrease of the phase II detoxifying enzyme, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) activity along with a three- and two-fold decrease of UGT2B gene and protein expression respectively. MAF2 co-administration normalized UGT activity and revived the expression of UGT2B with a concomitant expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of many cytoprotective genes. Conclusion Cajanus cajan extract therefore shows a promise in therapeutic use in alcohol induced liver dysfunction.

Effect of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) leaf extract on alcohol induced oxidative stress in rats

Alcoholic liver disease is a major medical complication of drinking alcohol. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of alcohol liver disease. The present study was carried to evaluate the effect of grape leaf extract (GLEt) on antioxidant and lipid peroxidation states in liver and kidney alcohol induced toxicity. In vitro studies with DPPH∗ and ABTS∗+ (cation radical) showed that GLEt possesses antioxidant activity. In vivo administration of ethanol (7.9g/kg bw/day) for 45 days resulted an activity of liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT), lipid peroxidation markers (TBARS, lipid hydroperoxides) in liver and kidney with significantly lower activity of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST and non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and GSH) in liver and kidney as compared with control rats. Administration of ethanol along with GLEt significantly decreased the activities of liver markers enzyme in serum towards near normal level. GLEt at a dose of 100mg/kg was highly effective than 25 and 50mg/kg body weight. In addition GLEt also significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation and addition, significantly restored the enzymic and non-enzymatic antioxidants level in liver and kidney of alcohol administration rats. This observation was supplemented by histopathological examination in liver and kidney. Our data suggest that GLEt exerts its protective effect by decreased the lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidants status, thus proving itself as an effective antioxidant in alcohol induced oxidative damage in rats.

Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activities ofVernonia amygdalinaon Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Damage in Mice

Vernonia amygdalina Del. (Family Compositae) is used in Nigerian folk medicine as a tonic and remedy against constipation, fever, high blood pressure, and many infectious diseases. We have evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of an aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaves against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice in vivo. Activities of liver marker enzymes in serum (glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin levels were determined colorimetrically, while catalase activity, lipid peroxidation products, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), iron, and total protein concentrations were measured in liver homogenate. Acetaminophen challenge (300 mg/kg, i.p) for 7 days caused significant (P < .01) increases in the levels of bilirubin, liver enzymes, TBARS, and iron, while catalase activity and total protein level were reduced significantly (P < .01). Preadministration of V. amygdalina resulted in a dose-dependent (50-100 mg/kg) reversal of acetaminophen-induced alterations of all the liver function parameters by 51.9-84.9%. Suppression of acetaminophen-induced lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress by the extract was also dose-dependent (50-100 mg/kg). The results of this study suggest that V. amygdalina elicits hepatoprotectivity through antioxidant activity on acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in mice.

&lt;i&gt;In vitro&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;In vivo&lt;/i&gt; evaluation of free radical scavenging potential of &lt;i&gt;Cissus quadrangularis&lt;/i&gt;

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQE) against free radical damage. The test extract exhibited significant inhibition in DPPH free radical formation, superoxide radical production and lipid peroxide production in erythrocytes. The activities of liver marker enzymes and antioxidant defense enzymes in rat liver homogenate were assessed in control and experimental animals. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) caused a significant increase in aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH), which was reverted by CQE pretreatment. The results obtained suggest that CQE showed inhibition of lipid peroxidation, free radical production and increase in antioxidant enzymes activities, which reveal its antioxidant property. It can be concluded that the free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract may be responsible for the therapeutic action against tissue damage. Keywords: free radicals, In vitro, Cissus quadrangularis, CCl4, antioxidant activity African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(2) 2005: 95-99

Effect of Aerva lanata against hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in rats

The partially purified petroleum ether extractable fraction of the whole plant Aerva lanata (PF) was evaluated for the protective effect against liver damage induced by carbon tetra chloride (CCl 4) in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were orally administered with PF (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days before CCl 4 challenge and 100 mg of PF alone for toxicity analysis without CCl 4 administration. The results showed that CCl 4 administration significantly damaged the liver as evident from histopathology and very high activity of serum and liver marker enzymes. It also reduced the antioxidant enzyme status of the animals. PF administration significantly reversed the histopathological changes and restored the elevated activities of liver marker enzymes and also enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities. The extract also reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased the serum total protein and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of PF showed the presence of alkaloids. These observations clearly indicate that PF contains antioxidant alkaloids capable of ameliorating the CCl 4-induced hepatic injury by virtue of its antioxidant activity.

In Vitro. and In Vivo. Evaluation of Free-Radical Scavenging Potential of Cissus quadrangularis.

The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of the methanol extract of Cissus quadrangularis. (L.) (CQE) against free-radical damage. The test extract exhibited significant scavenging effect on DPPH free radical, superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical production, and inhibition of lipid peroxide production in erythrocytes. The free-radical scavenging effect of CQE was comparable with that of reference antioxidants. The activities of liver marker enzymes and antioxidant defense enzymes in rat liver homogenate were assessed in CCl4- and CQE-treated animals. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) caused a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDL) levels and a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S.-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities, which were reverted by CQE treatment. The results obtained suggest that CQE showed antilipid peroxidative, free-radical scavenging property and ameliorated the liver damage by an increase in antioxidant enzymes activities. It can be concluded that the free-radical scavenging/antioxidant activity of the plant extract may be responsible for the therapeutic action against tissue damage.