title: Red Sea Suberea mollis Sponge Extract Protects against CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats via an Antioxidant Mechanism.
abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated that marine sponges and their active constituents exhibited several potential medical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective role as well as the antioxidant effect of the Red Sea Suberea mollis sponge extract (SMSE) on carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced acute liver injury in rats. In vitro antioxidant activity of SMSE was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay. Rats were orally administered three different concentrations (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of SMSE and silymarin (100 mg/kg) along with CCl4 (1 mL/kg, i.p., every 72 hr) for 14 days. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin were measured. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were also measured. Liver specimens were histopathologically examined. SMSE showed strong scavenging activity against free radicals in DPPH assay. SMSE significantly reduced liver enzyme activities. Moreover, SMSE significantly reduced hepatic MDA formation. In addition, SMSE restored GSH, NO, SOD, GPx, and CAT. The histopathological results confirmed these findings. The results of this study suggested a potent protective effect of the SMSE against CCl4-induced hepatic injury. This may be due to its antioxidant and radical scavenging activity.
authors.affiliation: Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centrer, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia ; Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Gastroenterology Surgery Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
authors.forename: Aymn T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nagla A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: El-Shitany
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lamiaa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Shaala
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department (Cytology and Histology), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Soad S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centrer, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia ; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Esam I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.affiliation: Animal Facility Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Umama A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Dayem
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Diaa T A
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Youssef