Protective effect of purple sweet potato leaf (Ipomoea batatas Linn Convolvulaceae) against alcohol-induced liver damage in mice

Purpose: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Ipomoea batatas extract against alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups (n = 10). Normal Group: The animals received distilled water 5 ml/kg for 7 days; Alcohol Group: The animals received alcohol 5 ml/kg of 40 % w/v alcohol for 7 days; Alcohol + Purple sweet potato leaf extract (PSPE) Group: PSPE 400 mg/kg was for 7 days. The animals received alcohol 5 ml/kg of 40 % w/v alcohol for 7 days; Alcohol + Hovenia dulcis Thunb extract (HDE) Group: HDE 400 mg/kg was for 7 days. To confirmed to the liver protection effect of PSPE, it was calculated, and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were detected. To evaluate changes of histological in alcohol-fed mice, liver tissue was determined by H&E staining. Results: Blood alcohol concentration in purple sweet potato leaf extract (PSPE) 200 mg/kg and Hovenia dulcis (H. dulcis) extract (HDE) 200 mg/kg treated group significantly decreased compared to - alcohol with water treated group (p < 0.05). Serum ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) were markedly reduced. Liver sections in mice stained with H&E (hematoxylin and eosin) stain to displayed the physiological changes in the liver tissue. Furthermore, the results showed that inflammatory cells increased in the alcohol group compared to the normal group, but spontaneously decreased in the PSPE or HDE-treated group. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that Ipomoea batatas may be therapeutically effective in protecting the liver from alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity and fatty liver.

BML-257, a small molecule that protects against drug induced liver injury in zebrafish

The use of many essential drugs is restricted due to their deleterious effects on the liver. Molecules that can prevent or protect the liver from drug induced liver injury (DILI) would be valuable in such situations. We used hepatocyte-specific expression of bacterial nitroreductase in zebrafish to cause temporally controlled liver damage. This transgenic line was used to run a whole organism based chemical screen in zebrafish larvae. In this screen we identified BML-257, a potent small molecule AKT inhibitor, that protected the liver against metronidazole-induced liver injury. BML-257 also showed potent prophylactic and pro-regenerative activity in this liver damage model. BML-257 also showed remarkable protective action in two independent toxicological models of liver injury caused by acetaminophen and Isoniazid. This suggests that BML-257 may have the potential to protect against multiple kinds of drug induced liver injury.

Metabolic Effects of Doxorubicin on the Rat Liver Assessed With Hyperpolarized MRI and Metabolomics

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a successful chemotherapeutic widely used for the treatment of a range of cancers. However, DOX can have serious side-effects, with cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity being the most common events. Oxidative stress and changes in metabolism and bioenergetics are thought to be at the core of these toxicities. We have previously shown in a clinically-relevant rat model that a low DOX dose of 2 mg kg–1 week–1 for 6 weeks does not lead to cardiac functional decline or changes in cardiac carbohydrate metabolism, assessed with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We now set out to assess whether there are any signs of liver damage or altered liver metabolism using this subclinical model. We found no increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, a measure of liver damage, following DOX treatment in rats at any time point. We also saw no changes in liver carbohydrate metabolism, using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MRS. However, using metabolomic analysis of liver metabolite extracts at the final time point, we found an increase in most acyl-carnitine species as well as increases in high energy phosphates, citrate and markers of oxidative stress. This may indicate early signs of steatohepatitis, with increased and decompensated fatty acid uptake and oxidation, leading to oxidative stress.

Liver Injury in COVID-19 Patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preferentially infects cells in the respiratory tract, but several studies have also demonstrated low levels of SARS-CoV-2 copies in the liver. The hypothesis that patients with COVID-19 may develop liver dysfunction is supported by findings showing abnormal liver test results in such patients, but the exact mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 induces liver damage remain unclear. Liver injury in COVID-19 patients has probably a multifactorial etiology including the rapid onset of a systemic pro-inflammatory state due to viral infection, the use of potentially hepatotoxic drugs, pneumonia-associated hypoxia, and the eventual direct injury of the liver by SARS-CoV-2. This chapter will discuss the potential pathophysiological mechanisms for SARS-CoV-2 hepatic tropism and an overview about the main biochemical and histopathological findings observed in liver from COVID-19 patients. Finally, the effects that this infection can produce in patients with chronic liver disease will be also discussed.

Potential Hepatoprotective Effect of Cheatomorpha gracilis extract against High Fat Diet (HFD)-Induced Liver Damage, and its characterization by HPLC

The current investigation was carried out to estimate the protective effect of aqueous extract of Cheatomorpha gracilis (AEC) against High fat Diet (HFD) induced liver damage in mice. The results of the in vitro study showed that AEC have higher antioxidant capacities in the DPPH and hydroxyl radical-scavenging assays. Indeed, many phenolic compounds (gallic acid, quercetin, naringenin, apigenin, kaempferol and rutin) were identified in the AEC. In the animal studies, during 6 weeks, HFD promoted oxidative stress with a rise level of malonaldehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCOs) levels and a significant decrease of the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Interestingly, the treatment with AEC (250 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced the effects of HFD disorders on some plasmatic liver biomarkers (AST, ALT and ALP) in addition to, plasmatic proteins inflammatory biomarkers (α2 and β1 decreases / β2 and γ globulins increases). It can be suggest that supplementation of MECG displays high potential to quench free radicals and attenuates high fat diet promoted liver oxidative stress and related disturbances.

Uji Aktivitas Hepatoprotektor Ekstrak Etanol Daun Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) pada Mencit Putih Jantan yang Diinduksi Parasetamol

Hepatotoxicity is a drug complication that is often found in long-term drug use because of the role of the liver in metabolizing drugs. Paracetamol is an analgesic and antipyretic drug that is often used by the community and is a safe choice when taken according to the dose. However, if consumed in excess and in the long-term it causes hepatotoxicity (liver damage). Liver damage can be prevented by giving antioxidant compounds. Rambutan’s leaves contain secondary metabolites of alkaloids, tannins and saponins which are known to have antioxidant potential. The aim of the research is to determine the hepatoprotective activity and the effective dose of Rambutan leaves ethanol extract in male mice induced by patacetamol. The research method was The Randomize Posttest-only Control Group Design using 25 white mice which were divided into 5 groups. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the treatment group of rambutans leaf ethanol extract with the negative control group and a non-significant with the positive control group. Giving extract doses of 100 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW and 400 mg/kg BW because it prevents the increase in levels of SGPT, SGOT, relative liver weight and reduces the percentage of damage to the hepatocytes of mice. The effective dose of rambutan’s leaf ethanol extract as a hepatoprotector is 400 mg/kg BW.