title: Hepatoprotective effects of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.): a combination of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gimjeng and Chakapat lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity on CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fruit pulp extracts of the lychees were examined for vitamin C, phenolic contents, anti-lipid peroxidation activity and hepatoprotective effect. Male Wistar albino rats were intraperitoneally injected (ip) with CCl(4) (2 ml/kg), then were orally administered (po) with silymarin (100mg/kg), and Gimjeng or Chakapat extracts (100 and 500 mg/kg). After ten days, the rats were sacrificed and their livers were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Their serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamate-oxalate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were analyzed. Apoptotic activity of the livers was assessed quantitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Gimjeng and Chakapat extracts showed the contents of vitamin C (1.2±0.6 and 4.3±0.1mg/100g) and phenolics like trans-cinnamic acid and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (9.80±0.21 and 19.56±0.4 mg GAE/g extract, respectively), and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values (11.64 and 9.09 g/mg trolox), respectively. The Gimjeng as compared to the Chakapat demonstrated a better antioxidant activity as revealed by anti-lipid peroxidation activity with the TEAC values. Administration of CCl(4) in rats elevated the serum GPT, GOT, and ALP level whereas silymarin, Gimjeng and Chakapat extracts prevented these increases significantly. Significant decrease of apoptotic cells together with restoration of morphological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect in the CCl(4)-induced rats pretreated with the extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antioxidant properties of the Gimjeng and Chakapat lychees as evidenced by the vitamin C and phenolic compounds, anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-apoptosis could explain the hepatoprotective effects in CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. lbhoopat@med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Lertlakana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bhoopat
authors.forename: Somdet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srichairatanakool
authors.forename: Duangta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanjanapothi
authors.forename: Tawat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taesotikul
authors.forename: Hathairat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thananchai
authors.forename: Tanin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhoopat
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005638:Fruit; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D032125:Litchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000637:Transaminases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid