Hepatoprotective evaluation and isolation of the major secondary metabolites from the ethyl acetate extract of liquid culture filtrate of Chaetomium globosum.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethyl acetate extract of the liquid culture filtrate of Chaetomium globosum fungus (family Chaetomiaceae). Rats were intraperitoneally injected by CCl4 (0.5ml/kg) twice a week for six consecutive weeks. Treatment tacks (250mg/kg) place at the same time of CCl4 induction and with the same duration. The evaluation was done through determination of liver function indices; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total serum protein content. In addition, the oxidative stress markers; hepatic glutathione content (GSH), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hepatic total protein were estimated. Moreover, the liver architectures were also examined. Isolation and identification of the main secondary metabolites were identified. Seven volatile compounds were identified from the plain chloroform fraction where, 1-Cyclopentyl-2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol (54.63%) was presented as the major compound. Eleven compounds were also identified from the fraction eluted by chloroform: methanol (85:15). 1,5,5-Trimethyl-6-methylene-1-cyclohexene (25.79%) and Norbornan-2-one (26.84%) are presented as the major compounds of this fraction. In conclusion, the extract recorded hepatoprotective effect by ameliorating the biochemical parameters under investigation. The liver histopathological pictures confirmed our results.

A simple diagnostic index comprising epithelial membrane antigen and fibronectin for hepatocellular carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Background and rationale for the study. Continuing search for suitable tumor-markers is of clinical value in managing patients with various malignancies. These markers may be presented as intracellular substances in tissues or may be released into the circulation and appear in serum. Therefore, this work is concerned with identification and quantitative determination of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and fibronectin and estimating their performances as surrogate markers for identifying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS: A total of 627 individuals constituted this study [fibrosis (F1-F3) = 217; cirrhosis = 191; HCC = 219]. Western-blot was used for identifying EMA and fibronectin in sera. As a result, a single immunoreactive band was shown at 130-kDa and 90-kDa corresponding to EMA and fibronectin, respectively. They were quantified using ELISA providing values in HCC higher than fibrosis or cirrhosis with a significant difference (P < 0.0001). For identifying HCC, EMA showed 0.82 area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) with sensitivity = 70% and specificity = 78% while fibronectin yielded AUC = 0.70 with sensitivity = 67% and specificity = 82%. FEBA-Test comprising fibronectin and EMA together with total-bilirubin and AFP was constructed yielding AUC = 0.92 for identifying HCC from cirrhosis with sensitivity = 89% and specificity = 85%. FEBA-Test was then tested for differentiating HCC from fibrosis showing AUC = 0.97 with sensitivity = 90% and specificity = 89%. FEBA-Test enabled the correct identification of HCC patients with CLIP 0-1 and size ≤ 3 cm with AUC = 0.80 and AUC = 0.84, respectively, indicating its ability in identifying early HCC. CONCLUSIONS: A four-marker index may improve the early detection of HCC with a high degree of accuracy.