The protective effect of an aqueous extract from <i>Smilax excelsa</i> l. against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Abstract

Background: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases, dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l. Shoots and leaves against acute ccl₄-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar albino rats.

Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl₄ (1 ml/kg) on the 10^th day. 24 h after ccl₄ intoxication, biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues.

Results: Ccl₄ challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of ccl₄-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl₄-treated rats. Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl₄-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl₄-induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes, carbon tetrachloride, liver injury, smilax excelsa, hepatoprotective activity