title: Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Crataegus songarica methanol extract.
abstract: The protective activity of the methanolic extract of the Crataegus songarica leaves was investigated against CCl4- and paracetamol-induced liver damage. On folklore levels, this plant is popularly used to treat various toxicological diseases. We evaluated both in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of C. songarica. At higher concentration of plant extract (700 µg/ml), 88.106% inhibition on DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed and reducing power of extract was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, C. songarica extract exhibited antioxidant effects on calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Hepatotoxicity was induced by challenging the animals with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight, i.p.) and paracetamol (500 mg/kg body weight) and the extract was administered at three concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight). Hepatoprotection was evaluated by determining the activities of liver function marker enzymes and antioxidant status of liver. Administration of CCl4 elevated the levels of liver function enzymes, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH. We also observed a dramatic increase in ALT, AST, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels in rats administered 500 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol. Decreased antioxidant defense system as glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in rats treated with CCl4 and paracetamol. Pretreatment with the extract decreased the elevated serum GOT, GPT, LDH, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase activities and increased the antioxidant enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, C. songarica methanol extract may be an effective hepatic protective agent and viable candidate for treating hepatic disorders and other oxidative stress-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Showkat Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ganie
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Tanveer Ali
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Ovais
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Parvaiz Ahmad
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Shayaq Ul
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Abeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Shajrul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Afzal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zargar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol