title: Hepatoprotection with a chloroform extract of Launaea procumbens against CCl4-induced injuries in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Launaea procumbens (Asteraceae) is used as a folk medicine to treat hepatic disorders in Pakistan. The effect of a chloroform extract of Launaea procumbens (LPCE) was evaluated against carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of LPCE, 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into six groups. Animals of group 1 (control) had free access to food and water. Group II received 3 ml/kg of CCl4 (30% in olive oil v/v) via the intraperitoneal route twice a week for 4 weeks. Group III received 1 ml of silymarin via gavage (100 mg/kg b.w.) after 48 h of CCl4 treatment whereas groups IV and V were given 1 ml of LPCE (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., respectively) after 48 h of CCl4 treatment. Group VI received 1 ml of LPCE (200 mg/kg b.w.) twice a week for 4 weeks. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) were measured in liver homogenates. DNA damage, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) counts and histopathology were studied in liver samples. Serum was analyzed for various biochemical parameters. Phytochemical composition in LPCE was determined through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  LPCE inhibited lipid peroxidation, and reduced the activities of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase in serum induced by CCl4. GSH contents were increased as were the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD, GST, GSR, GSH-Px) when altered due to CCl4 hepatotoxicity. Similarly, absolute liver weight, relative liver weight and the number of hepatic lesions were reduced with co-administration of LPCE. Phyochemical analyses of LPCE indicated that it contained catechin, kaempferol, rutin, hyperoside and myricetin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that Launaea procumbens efficiently protected against the hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in rats, possibly through the antioxidant effects of flavonoids present in LPCE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Bannu KPK, Bannu, Pakistan. Rahmatgul_81@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rahmat A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Muhammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mushtaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahreen
authors.forename: Naseer A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Mir Sadiq
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jasia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bokhari
authors.forename: Umbreen
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Shumaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases