Aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. decelerates acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage by reducing cell death and oxidative stress in mouse experimental models.
BACKGROUND
Acetaminophen (AAP)-induced oxidative stress can cause cell death to induce liver damage. The antioxidant effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HS) was shown in previous studies. In this study the effect of HS extract (HSE) on AAP-induced liver injury in BALB/c mice was investigated.


RESULTS
In vivo, BALB/c mice were fed orally with 200, 400 or 600 mg kg(-1) HSE for 2 weeks and then injected with 1000 mg kg(-1) AAP. Pretreatment with HSE decreased lipid peroxidation and increased catalase activity and glutathione level. It also decreased AAP-induced liver injury, accompanied by decreased expression of pJNK, Bax and tBid in the liver. Additionally, HSE protected BALB/c normal liver cells from AAP-induced damage in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
It has been demonstrated that HSE can protect the mouse liver from AAP-induced injury and that the protective mechanism might involve decreasing oxidative stress and reducing cell death.
Liu
Liang-Chih
LC
Department of Surgery, Fong-Yuan Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Wang
Chau-Jong
CJ
Lee
Ching-Chih
CC
Su
Sheng-Chi
SC
Chen
Huei-Lin
HL
Hsu
Jen-Dong
JD
Lee
Huei-Jane
HJ
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D035264:Flowers; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D031584:Hibiscus; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002374:Catalase; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005978:Glutathione