ABSTRACT
Ziziphus oxyphylla Edgew (Z. oxyphylla) is a small shrub to a medium sized tree. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Z. oxyphylla in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxic rat model. Silymarin was used as a standard drug. Methanol extract was found to be the most potent in in-vitro antioxidant studies. The methanol extract of Z. oxyphylla was administered to experimental animals. The hepatoprotective effect of extract was evaluated by measuring liver biochemical markers, anti-oxidant enzymes and blood lipid profile. Treatment with the paracetamol increased the level of hepatic biomarkers, blood lipid profile and decreased anti-oxidant enzymes. Pre-treatment with Z. oxyphylla caused restoration of hepatic biomarkers, blood lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes levels. It is concluded that the methanol extract of Z. oxyphylla possesses hepatoprotective activity that might be due to quercetin and kaempferol glycosides present in the plant extract. Further studies are required to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of these isolated flavonoid glycosides.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control , Liver/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Ziziphus , Acetaminophen , Animals , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Biomarkers/blood , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/etiology , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/metabolism , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Enzymes/blood , Lipids/blood , Liver/metabolism , Liver/pathology , Male , Methanol/chemistry , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , Plant Leaves , Rats, Wistar , Solvents/chemistry , Ziziphus/chemistryABSTRACT
Lactucaserriola (L. serriola), commonly known asprickly lettuce, is an annual and biennial herb. The plant is traditionally used as sedative, hypnotic, cough suppressant, expectorant, purgative, diuretic, vasorelaxant, demulcent, antiseptic and antispasmodic. Aim of present study was to evaluate protective effect of L. serriola in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Silymarin was used as a standard drug. Hepatoprotective effect of extract was determined by liver biochemical markers, anti-oxidant enzymes and blood lipid profile. Methanolic extract was found to be the most potent in in-vitro antioxidant assays and used for further studies. Treatment with paracetamol increased the level of hepatic biomarkers, blood lipid profile and decreased anti-oxidant enzyme levels. Pre-treatment with Lactuca serriola caused restoration of hepatic biomarkers, blood lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes. FTIR represented that L. serriola contains hydroxyl (-OH), carboxylic acid (C=O) and alkene (C=C) groups. HPLC analysis showed presence of polyphenolic compounds in the methanolic extract of L. serriola. It is concluded that the methanolic extract of Lactuca serriola possesses hepatoprotective potential that might be linked to the presence of polyphenolic compounds and their anti-oxidant activities.
