Studies on the protective effects of caffeic acid and quercetin on chemical-induced hepatotoxicity in rodents.
Caffeic acid and quercetin, the well-known phenolic compounds widely present in the plant kingdom, were investigated for their possible protective effects against paracetamol and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Paracetamol at the oral dose of 1 g/kg produced 100% mortality in mice while pretreatment of separate groups of animals with caffeic acid (6 mg/kg) and quercetin (10 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 20% and 30%, respectively. Oral administration of sub-lethal dose of paracetamol (640 mg/kg) produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant (P<0.01) rise in serum levels of aminotransferases (aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)) compared to respective control values. The serum enzyme values were significantly (P<0.01) lowered on pretreatment of rats with either caffeic acid (6 mg/kg) or quercetin (10 mg/kg). Similarly, the hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg; orally) also raised significantly (P<0.05) the serum AST and ALT levels as compared to control values. The same dose of the caffeic acid and quercetin was able to prevent CCl4-induced rise in serum enzymes. Caffeic acid and quercetin also prevented the CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time confirming their hepatoprotectivity. These results indicate that caffeic acid and quercetin exhibited hepatoprotective activity possibly through multiple mechanisms.
Janbaz
K H
KH
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Saeed
S A
SA
Gilani
A H
AH
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats
D002109:Caffeic Acids; D020011:Protective Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D011794:Quercetin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C040048:caffeic acid