The Beneficial Effect of Nanostructured Oligochitosan against Gamma Irradiation and/or Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats

The current study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of nanostructured oligochitosan (NOC) against the synergistic toxic effects of -irradiation exposure and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication in male rats. Adult male rats were allocated into eight groups; control, NOC-administered, -irradiated, CCl4-intoxicated, NOC-pretreated -irradiated, NOC-pretreated CCl4-intoxicated, -irradiated and CCl4-intoxicated, NOC-pretreated CCl4-intoxicated and -irradiated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results demonstrated that the oligochitosan prepared by exposure to gamma irradiation was in the range of nanoparticles. A synergistic hepatotoxic effect was demonstrated following the exposure of rats to -irradiation and CCl4 intoxication, along with the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. NOC was able to protect the hepatocytes from the combined toxic insults through suppressing lipid and protein oxidations, maintaining hepatic functions, downregulating the expression of some inflammatory genes, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), as well as enhancing the expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl2 gene and suppressing the proapoptotic Bax gene expression. Histological findings of liver tissues verified the biochemical and molecular data. The study clarified some of the molecular mechanisms by which NOC protects the liver against the synergistic toxic effect of -irradiation and CCl4.

Malondialdehyde (MDA) as a Marker of Platelet Function in Rats with CCl4-Induced Toxic Hepatopathy

Blood platelets are pivotal cells in the process of hemostasis and thrombosis. In the majority of patients with severe liver disease, platelet function appeared defective. We determinate platelet adhesiveness, aggregability and MDA level, in rats with acute and chronic hepatopathy induced by CCl4 administration. Our data relieves that platelet functions are not only affected in chronic toxic affectation, but also in acute intoxication (p[0.05). Icosanoids production (expressed in MDA levels) are significantly decreased only in chronic CCl4 intoxication (p[0.001). Significant correlation appears between aggregability and MDA (r = -0.78) and adhesiveness and MDA (r = -0.57) in group C, with chronic CCl4 intoxication. The complexity of these platelet functions related to the hepatic disease is still a matter of debate and needs further investigation.

Protective Effects of Ammannia baccifera Against CCl4-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Ammannia baccifera Linn. is commonly used as a traditional medicine in India and China. The antioxidant potential of an ethanolic extract of A. baccifera (EEAB; 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) was evaluated against CCL4-induced toxicity in rats. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Phytochemical constituents of EEAB were also analyzed by using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. EEAB treatment markedly reduced CCl4 effects on lipid peroxidation, cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and protein carbonyls. It increased the levels of phospholipids, total sulfhydryl, and antioxidant enzymes, which were reduced by CCl4 intoxication. Treatment with EEAB significantly alleviated the CCl4 effect on non-enzymatic antioxidants. Isoenzyme pattern analyses revealed that significant alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx2, GPx3), and catalase (CAT) occurred in rats that were exposed to CCl4 and restored post EEAB treatment. Moreover, CCl4-induced down regulation of SOD, CAT, and GPx gene expression was conversely counteracted by EEAB. Its bioactivity may be due to its incorporation of major compounds, such as chlorogenic acid, quercetin, protocatechuic acid, lamioside, crocetin, and khayasin C. These results suggest that EEAB may be used as a potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent since it is a rich source of flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF OXALIS DEBILIS KUNTH AGAINST CCL4 - INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Oxalis debilis Kunth in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by CCl4 30% in olive oil (1 ml/kg intraperitoneally). Mice were treated with aqueous extract of O. debilis at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight orally for 14 days. There were two groups, pre-treatment (once daily for 14 days before CCl4 intoxication) and post-treatment (2, 6, 24, and 48 hrs after CCl4 intoxication). The observed effects were compared with a known hepatoprotective agent, silymarin.Results: Pre-treatment and post-treatment groups of aqueous extract of O. debilis significantly reduced elevated serum levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin and increased the level of total protein as compared to CCl4-treated group. The histopathological study also confirms the hepatoprotection. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that O. debilis can be used as safe, cheap, and alternative preventive and protective drugs against liver injury. The protective effect observed could be attributed to the presence of various phytochemicals which are responsible for the restoration of liver damage.

Protective Effect of Alpina nigra Leaves Extract in Mouse Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride

The present study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in rats. CCl4 caused liver damage in rats manifested by significant rise in serum enzyme levels. To examine the effect of the extract male albino rats were used and extract was administered orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg once daily. The results obtained showed that there were reductions in the activities of serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total protein, total bilirubin from 97.67±1.78, 275.67±2.86, 934 ± 1.41, 1.13±0.227 and 7.50±0.707 in animals treated with toxic doses of CCl4 to 78.33±1.08, 53±1.41, 870±0.707, 0.67±0.04 and 6.47±0.356 in animal treated with extract before CCl4 intoxication. The extract could also repair the abnormal lipid profile. From these results, it is concluded that methanol extract of Alpina nigra leaves has hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats.