Lygodium flexuosum extract down regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity

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 (11 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.