ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate effects of zingiber alcohol extract(ZGB)on the inflammation-associated cytokines in rats with carbon tetrachloride(CCL4)induced hepatic fibrosis.Methods 24 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:normal control group(CON,n=8),hepatic fibrosis model group(HF,n=8),and zingiber administration group(ZGB,n=8).The rats in the HF and ZGB groups were administrated by subcutaneous injection of 50%CCL4 3 mL/kg,twice per week for 8 weeks,the first time dosage was doubled.At the same time the ZGB group received daily intragastric ZGB(300 mg/kg a day),while the CON and HF groups received daily intragastric isovolumic normal saline for 8 weeks.The animals were executed at the end of 8 weeks.Serum samples were collected for detecting the content of ALT,AST.The liver samples were used for assessing the Hyp content,detectingα-SMA level by Western blotting and TNFα,IL-1 b,IL-6 mRNA levels by the real-time PCR.The histological ob-servation of the liver tissue was done with HE stain.Results As compared with the HF group,the serum levels of ALT and AST in the ZGB group were markedly decreased,and the content of Hyp in liver tissue was decreased(P<0.05).The Western blot re-sults showed that the expression amount ofα-SMA protein in the ZGB group was significantly lower than that in the HF group(P<0.05);the real-time quatitative PCR showed that the expression levels of TNFα,IL-1b,IL-6 were decreased compared with the HF group(P<0.05).The hepatocyte degeneration degrees observed by the optical microscope in the ZGB group were significantly alle-viated compared with the HF group.Conclusion ZGB has better anti-hepatic fibrosis and hepatocyte-protective effect,one of its mechanisms could be that ZGB could reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα,IL-1b and IL-6,thus delay or hinder the progress course of liver fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
The claimed hepatoprotective effect of the root of Uvaria afzelii Sc. Elliot (Annonaceae) was investigated using the Carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats as a template. The methanolic extract of U. afzelii co-comittantly administered with carbon tetrachloride at doses of 125, 250 and 500mg/kg was found to significantly (p<0.05) reduce the levels of alanine aminotransfarase (AST), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and un-conjugated bilirubin, while levels of total protein and albumin were significantly increased in a non dose-dependent pattern, compared to animals treated with carbon tetrachloride alone, where the activity of ALT, AST, ALT, total and un-conjugated bilirubin increased and that of total protein and serum albumin decreased. Histopathological examinations supported the biochemical results. This study conclusively provides scientific validation for the use of extract of the root of U. afzelii in ethnomedicine to manage jaundice and liver injury.
ABSTRACT
The ethanolic extract of Hypnea muciformis (red algae) was tested for hepatoprotective activity against experimentally induced liver damage by Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in male albino rats. The levels of serum enzymatic and biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase, 5' nucleotidase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, triglycerides, lipid peroxides and albumin were determined. The CCI4 induced lesions in the liver significant increased the levels of serum marker enzymes SGPT and SGOT, bilirubin, creatinine and decreased urea. The oral treatment with ethanolic extract of H. muciformis exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing the CCL4 caused changes in the biochemical parameters such as total protein, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea. These parameters were restored towards the normal levels as shown by the enzymatic tests. In addition, H. muciformis significantly decreased the liver weight of CCl4 intoxicated rats. Apparently the H. muciformis extract interfered with the free radical formation, which resulted in hepatoprotective activity. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the LD50 value was more than 3 g/kg body weight. These results clearly indicated that this seaweed contained some active principles in its ethanolic extract which acted as an antidote against the hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4.