ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To examine the downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in a time-dependent manner on carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in experimental animals.@*METHODS@#CCl(4) (150 μL/100 g) was dissolved in corn oil (1:1 v/v %) and administered orally. Group I was treated as normal control and received corn oil on 8th day. Group II was toxic control and was given a single dose of CCl(4) on 8th days. Group III was treated with Lygodium flexuosum (L. flexuosum) n-hexane extract (200 mg/kg) for 8 days and on 8th day a single dose of CCl(4) was received. Group IV (negative control) received L. flexuosum n-hexane extract (200 mg/kg) alone for 8 days.@*RESULTS@#Treatment with n-hexane extract prior to the administration of CCl(4) significantly prevented an increase in serum AST, ALT, LDH activity and lipid peroxidation and prevented the depletion of glutathione (GSH). Rats treated with L. flexuosum had reduced mRNA levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α and IL-1β genes in liver of CCl(4) intoxicated rats when compared to CCl(4) control as evidenced by RT-PCR.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The data suggest that L. flexuosum, a widely available fern, significantly reduces CCl(4) induced acute hepatotoxicity by down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Alanine Transaminase , Metabolism , Aspartate Aminotransferases , Metabolism , Carbon Tetrachloride , Toxicity , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury , Blood , Cytokines , Metabolism , Down-Regulation , Glutathione , Metabolism , Hexanes , Pharmacology , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase , Metabolism , Lipid Peroxidation , Physiology , Phytotherapy , Methods , Plant Extracts , Pharmacology , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To identify the phytochemical constituents of Amorphophallus campanulatus (A. campanulatus) tuber and to evaluate its antioxidant potential through in vitro and in vivo models.@*METHODS@#Phytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant activities of A. campanulatus tuber n-hexane extract (ACHE) and methanolic extract (ACME) were evaluated using DPPH, hydroxyl radical, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also investigated. The protective potential of two different doses of ACME (125 and 250 mg/kg) was also evaluated against thioacetamide (TAA) induced oxidative stress in rats. Silymarin used as a standard drug control. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by quantifying the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The antioxidant potential of ACME were also evaluated by the estimation of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in hepatic and renal tissues. Histopathologic changes of liver were also evaluated.@*RESULTS@#In vitro studies revealed that ACME has higher antioxidant and radical scavenging activity than ACHE, which may be attributed to its higher phenolic and flavonoid content. ACME significantly prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, and tissue malondialdehyde levels(P < 0.05). Hepatic and renal GSH, GST, GR, GPx, and catalase levels were remarkably increased by the treatment with the extract. Quantification of histopathological changes also supported the dose dependent protective effects of ACME.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results do suggest that A. campanulatus tuber could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant.