title: Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. fruit juice protects liver from carbon tetrachloride-induced injury.
abstract: The protective effects of the juice of Opuntia ficus indica fruit (prickly pear) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity were examined in rats. The animals were treated orally with the juice (3 mL/rat) 2 h after administration of the hepatotoxic agent. Preventive effects were studied by giving the juice (3 mL/rat) for 9 consecutive days. On day 9 the rats received the hepatotoxic agent. Morphological and biochemical evaluations were carried out 24, 48 and 72 h after induction of the hepatic damage. Data show that O. ficus indica fruit juice administration exerts protective and curative effects against the CCl(4)-induced degenerative process in rat liver. Histology evaluation revealed a normal hepatic parenchyma at 48 h; the injury was fully restored after 72 h. Moreover, a significant reduction in CCl(4)-induced increase of GOT and GPT plasma levels is evident; these data are in agreement with the functional improvement of hepatocytes. O. ficus indica fruit juice contains many phenol compounds, ascorbic acid, betalains, betacyanins, and a flavonoid fraction, which consists mainly of rutin and isorhamnetin derivatives. Hepatoprotection may be related to the flavonoid fraction of the juice, but other compounds, such as vitamin C and betalains could, synergistically, counteract many degenerative processes by means of their antioxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaco-Biological Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Vill. SS. Annunziata, Italy. emgalati@unime.it
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mondello
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Lauriano
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Taviano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miceli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005638:Fruit; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D029747:Opuntia; D008517:Phytotherapy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride