Anti-apoptotic effects of tamarind leaves against ethanol-induced rat liver injury.
OBJECTIVE
The leaf decoctions of Tamarindus indica (TI) have long been traditionally used in liver ailments. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-apoptotic activity of TI leaf extract against acute ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver injury. The major constituents of the extract were also examined for standardization purposes.


METHODS
Rats (n = 5-7) were orally pretreated with TI leaf extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for seven days. Silymarin was used as a positive control. Liver tissue biochemical assays included key markers of apoptosis and its redox signalling. Serum enzyme levels were also determined.


RESULTS
All graded doses of TI leaf extract mitigated the EtOH-induced liver caspase-3 activation (42, 57 and 64%) as well as DNA fragmentation (32, 47 and 50%), respectively. The highest dose of the extract demonstrated membrane-stabilizing (38%) in addition to glutathione-replenishing (88%) effects. Also, the leaves improved the liver histopathological alterations. Moreover, major plant bioactive polyphenolics, that might be responsible for the extract's observed effects, were isolated and identified.


CONCLUSIONS
TI leaf extract demonstrated promising anti-apoptotic hepatoprotective effects in rats. The use of TI leaves in different liver diseases, having apoptosis as the underlying pathology, hence warrants further clinical investigation.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Cairo, Egypt. asser@asu-pharmacy.edu.eg
Asser I
AI
Ghoneim
Omayma A
OA
Eldahshan
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029861:Tamarindus / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D000431:Ethanol; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D053148:Caspase 3; D005978:Glutathione