Extracts of Hura crepitans L. stem bark attenuate liver injury and inflammation induced by CCl 4 in rats

This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous (AE) and ethanolic extracts (EE) ofH. crepitans stem bark in CCl4-induced liver injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Liver injury was induced by single oral administration of 1 mL/kg b.wt CCl4 (1:1 v/v olive oil). The effect of AE and EE was assessed at 250 mg/kg p.o. Serum and liver biochemical markers were measured, and liver was assessed for oxidative stress, morphological changes, and expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. EE, AE, and silymarin displayed significant hepatoprotective activities by ameliorating the activities of transaminase (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and decreased the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL) following increases induced by CCl4. It further enhanced the antioxidant defence enzymes and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities, while preventing lipid peroxidation. Extract further attenuated liver damage and inflammation by offering some inhibitory effect on nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κB) expression, leading to downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and interleukin-23 (IL-23). This study demonstrated AE and EE to be hepatoprotective, and the mechanism of hepatoprotection was through the enhancement of the antioxidant defence system with resultant mit igation of lipid peroxidation. They also showed hepatoprotective effect through the inhibition of NF-κB, thus leading to the reduction in inflammation.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research