ATTENUATION OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE AND ETHANOL-INDUCED HEPATIC FIBROSIS IN RATS BY CALLIGONUM COMOSUM SHOOT EXTRACT

ABSTRACTObjective: This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract of Calligonum comosum (C. comosum)shoots on the hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and ethanol (CCl4/ethanol) in rats.Methods: A liver fibrosis was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by oral administration of CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight, twice weekly for 10 weeks) alongwith ethanol (10% in drinking water 1 week before CCl4 administration and throughout the experiment). Rats were pretreated with C. comosumextract (daily, orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight 1 week before CCl4 administration). At the end of the experiment, serum, and liver sampleswere subjected to biochemical investigations. In addition, liver and kidney tissues were evaluated for histopathological changes.Results: C. comosum extract pretreatment significantly reduced CCl4 - induced elevation in serum levels of aspartate aminotransaminase, alanineaminotransaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and significantly elevated serum contents of total protein and albumin, aswell as an improvement in hepatic protein content, albumin/globulin ratio, body weight and relative liver and kidney weights. C. comosum extract alsosignificantly increased the hepatic levels of glucose-6-phosphatase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase,and glutathione with significant decrease in the contents of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl. In addition, downregulation in expression ofthe fibrotic marker matrix metalloproteinase-2 was observed. C. comosum extract also ameliorated histopathological changes of CCl4/ethanol groupwhich further evidenced the biochemical findings.Conclusion: Our results confirmed that the methanolic extract of C. comosum shoots effectively protect against CCl4/ethanol-induced liver fibrosis,through its antioxidant property.Keywords: Calligonum comosum, Hepatic fibrosis, Carbon tetrachloride, Hepatoprotective effect, Antioxidants, Matrix metalloproteinase-2

Uloga kompleksa germanija s L-cysteinom i α-tokoferolom kao stimulatora antioksidativnog obrambenog sustava štakora izloženih gama-zračenju

This study was conducted to evaluate the potency of the newly prepared germanium L-cysteine α-tocopherol complex [germanium dichloro tetrakis (L-cysteinyl-α-tocopherol amide) dichloride] as a protective agent against γ-irradiation-induced free radicals production and liver toxicity. Male Swiss albino rats were injected intraperitoneally with the germanium complex in a concentration of 75 mg kg-1 body mass per dose, for 6 successive doses, last dose administered twenty minutes pre-exposure to a single dose of whole body γ-irradiation of 6.5 Gy. Lipid peroxidation (LPx), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH) levels, and activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were estimated in blood and liver, and blood total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride and α-tocopherol content were estimated as well. The results revealed that administration of germanium complex pre-irradiation resulted in significant (p < 0.001) improvement compared to the irradiated group in the level of hepatic and blood LPx. Hepatic GSH revealed a significant increase (p < 0.001), while its level showed no significant variation in blood. Also, the level of NO in blood and liver increased significantly (p < 0.001). On the other hand, pretreatment with the germanium complex normalized the activities of SOD, GPx and CAT in blood and liver when compared to the irradiated group. The study also documents a marked decrease in the blood triglyceride and cholesterol (p < 0.001); and significant increase (p < 0.001) of -tocopherol and total protein contents in blood. These biochemical changes were associated with marked improvement of histological status. Therefore, the germanium L-cysteine α-tocopherol complex may be a good candidate for ameliorating the changes induced by irradiation, which indicates the beneficial radio-protective role of this antioxidant agent.U radu je procjenjivan kompleks germanija s L-cisteinom i α-tokoferolom [germanijev diklortetrakis (L-cisteinil-α-tokoferol amid) diklorid] kao zaštitno sredstvo protiv slobodnih radikala induciranih γ-zračenjem hepatotoksičnosti. Mužjacima švicarskih albino štakora davan je intraperitonealno kompleks germanija, u 6 sukcesivnih doza po 75 mg kg-1 tjelesne mase, posljednja doza dana je dvadeset minuta prije izlaganja cijelog organizma jednokratnoj dozi γ-ozračivanja od 6,5 Gy. U krvi i jetri praćena je razina lipidne peroksidacije (LPx), dušikovog(II) oksida (NO), glutationa (GSH), aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima glutation peroksidaze (GPx), superoksid dismutaze (SOD) i katalaze (CAT), te količina ukupnih proteina u krvi, kolesterola, triglicerida i α-tokoferola. Rezultati su pokazali da je primjena germanijevog kompleksa značajno (p < 0,001) poboljšala koncentraciju jetrenih i krvnih LPx. Koncentracija GSH u jetri je značajno porasla (p < 0,001), dok se njegova razina u krvi nije značajno promijenila. Koncentracija NO u krvi i jetri značajno se smanjila (p < 0,001). S druge strane, prethodna obrada s kompleksom germanija normalizirala je aktivnost SOD, GPx i CAT u krvi i jetri u odnosu na ozračenu skupinu. Istraživanja su također pokazala značajno smanjenje triglicerida i kolesterola (p < 0,001) i značajno povećanje (p < 0,001) alfa-tokoferola i ukupnih proteina u krvi. Te biokemijske promjene su povezane s izraženim poboljšanjem histoloških promjena u odnosu na ozračenu skupinu. Opisani kompleks germanija mogao bi se kao antioksidativno sredstvo potencijalno upotrijebiti za spriječavanje promjena uzrokovanih zračenjem

Hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius leaf extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of aqueous ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia ferrea (C. ferrea) leaf in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each were assigned into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal administration of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight). C. ferrea extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight was orally administered to both diabetic and non-diabetic animals for a period of 30 days. After completion of experimental duration serum, liver and pancreas were used for evaluating biochemical and histopathological changes.ResultsOral administration of C. ferrea leaf extract significantly reduced elevated serum glucose, α-amylase, liver function levels and significantly increased serum insulin, total protein and body weight as well as improved lipid profile due to diabetes. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione, and diminished levels of lipid peroxidation in liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Histopathological studies demonstrated the reduction in the pancreas and liver damage and confirmed the biochemical findings.ConclusionsFrom the present study, it can be concluded that the C. ferrea leaf extract effectively improved hyperglycaemia while inhibiting the progression of oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Hence, it can be used in the management of diabetes mellitus