Clinical observation of hepatoprotective agents for prevention of liver injury during initial chemotherapy of patients with acute myeloid leukemia / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effect of hepatoprotective agents against liver injury induced by initial chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: A total of 128 patients with newly diagnosed AML in the department of hematology of one tertiary hospital who received IA regimen were enrolled into this study during the period of January 2012 to December 2015. Using a retrospective study design, differences were assessed between the group treated with hepatoprotective agents (experimental group; n = 99) and that withou hepatoprotective agents (control group; n = 29). The experimental group was further divided into four groups, ie, glutathione group, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group, glutathione combined with magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group, and the other group. The patients in the experimental group were treated with hepatoprotective agents at the first time of inducing chemotherapy while the patients in the control group received inducing chemotherapy only. The biochemical indexes for liver function of all the patients were recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the incidence of liver injury between the experimental group and control group (P > 0.05), and the preventive effects in the three groups were similar (P > 0.05). Cox regression analysis of the related factors of the occurrence of liver injury showed that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic use of hepatoprotective agents does not reduce the incidence of liver injury among treatment-naive patients with AML who have received IA regimen.

Therapeutic efficacy of Nigella sativa Linn. seed extract against CCl4 induced hepatic injury in wistar rats.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intake damages liver. We evaluated therapeutic potential of aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats. The hepatic damage induced by CCl4 @ 1.5 mL/kg, ip was evidenced by a significant increase in the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, protein and urea lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as reduction in hepatic antioxidant system e.g. reduced glutathione. Hepatic total protein and glucose-6-phosphatase activity were found decreased. Histological studies substantiated the above biochemical findings. However, after 48 h of administration of aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg, po) it not only detoxified the toxicity but also reversed LPO, GSH, AST, ALT and serum protein changes at all the three doses. Both higher doses of extract were found effective in monitoring urea, albumin, total protein and G-6-Pase activity. However, on the basis of percent protection highest dose i.e., 750 mg/kg proved better. The result suggests that the aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds can be used as a hepatoprotective agent.

Protective effect of nutmeg aqueous extract against experimentally-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

Background: Nutmeg a well-known spice used as a folk medicine in India to treat stomach ailments. Worldwide it is commonly used for food preservation and fragrance. Abundant references were given for nutmeg in ayurveda, unani, and siddha as a single drug or as an important constituent in formulations. Objective: In the present study, nutmeg aqueous extract (NMAET) was evaluated against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant enzymes, liver functions tests, and lipid profi le tests were performed using standard procedures. Histological examination of liver was done by fi xing in formaldehyde solution and hematoxylin staining. Results: Oral administration of NMAET effectively inhibited the ISO-induced changes in the activities of hepatic marker and antioxidant enzymes in plasma and heart tissue along with lipid peroxidation levels. The liver sections of ISO administered rats showed massive fatty changes, necrosis, ballooning degeneration, and broad infi ltration of the lymphocytes and the loss of cellular boundaries; these changes were completely absent in groups treated with extract. Analysis of variance and Duncan’s Multiple Range tests were used to perform statistical analysis. Conclusion: Results suggest that the NMAET possess signifi cant potential as hepatoprotective and antioxidative agent against ISO-induced damage in rats.

A Comparative Study on the Hepatoprotective Effect of Tamarindus indica and Vitamin E in Long Evans Rats.

The protective effects of ethanolic extract of Tamarindus indica leaves and seeds in compoarison to vitamin E, were studied on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Long Evans Rats. Different groups of animals were administered in the paracetamol (1500mg /kg, p.o.) for 7 days. Ethanolic extracts of leaves and seeds of Tamarindus indica (1250mg/kg) with parallel vitamin E (500 mg/kg), were administered to paracetamol pretreated rats. On treatment with paracetamol a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were observed. On administration of ethanolic extracts of leaves and seeds a significant decrease in the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were observed and histopathological examination of liver tissue revealed an almost return to normal architecture. The result were almost comparable to vitamin E, a known hepatoprotective agent.