title: Role of sulphated polysaccharides from Sargassum Wightii in Cyclosporine A-induced oxidative liver injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seaweeds or marine algae have long been made up a key part of the Asian diet, and as an antioxidant, sulphated polysaccharides have piqued the interest of many researchers as one of the ocean's greatest treasures. The present investigation suggests the therapeutic potential of sulphated polysaccharides from marine brown algae "Sargassum wightii" in Cyclosporine A (CsA)- induced liver injury. CsA is a potent immunosuppressive agent used in the field of organ transplantations and various autoimmune disorders. However, hepatotoxicity due to CsA remains to be one of the major clinical challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of sulphated polysaccharides on CsA-induced hepatotoxicity was studied in adult male albino rats of Wistar strain, and the animals were randomized into four groups with six rats in each. Group I served as vehicle control. Group II rats were given CsA at a dosage of 25 mg/kg body weight, orally for 21 days. Group III rats were given sulphated polysaccharides at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneously for 21 days. Group IV rats were given sulphated polysaccharides simultaneously along with CsA, as mentioned in Group II for 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CsA provoked hepatotoxicity was evident from the decreased activities of hepatic marker enzymes. A significant rise in the level of oxidants, along with a striking decline in both the enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants, marks the severity of oxidative stress in CsA-induced rats. This in turn led to enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine and protein carbonyls, along with a decrease in ATPase activities and alterations in lipid profile. Histopathological changes also strongly support the above aberrations. However, concomitant treatment with sulphated polysaccharides restored the above deformities to near control and prevented the morphological alterations significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, the present study highlights that sulphated polysaccharides can act therapeutically against CsA-induced hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr, ALM, Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai - 600 113, India. ajose_joy@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Josephine
authors.forename: Kalaiselvam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nithya
authors.forename: Ganapathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amudha
authors.forename: Coothan Kandaswamy
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Veena
authors.forename: Sreenivasan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Preetha
authors.forename: Palaninathan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varalakshmi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044647:Sargassum; D013431:Sulfates
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates; D016572:Cyclosporine