Experimental liver protection of n-butanolic extract of Astragalus monspessulanus L. on carbon tetrachloride model of toxicity in rat.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hepatoprotective potential of n-butanolic extract of Astragalus monspessulanus L. (EAM) against in-vitro/in-vivo carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats. Silymarin was used as a positive control.


RESULTS
The in-vitro experiments were carried out in primary isolated rat hepatocytes first incubated with CCl4 (86 µmol/l). Hepatic injury was discerned by a decrease in cell viability and cell glutathione (GSH) levels, an increase in lactate dehydrogenase leakage into the medium, and an elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) quantity. Cell pre-incubation with EAM (1 µg/ml and 10 µg/ml) significantly ameliorated the CCl4-induced liver damage. In-vivo rats were challenged orally with CCl4 (10% solution in olive oil) alone and after 7 days pre-treatment with EAM (100 mg/kg body weight per day, oral gavage). CCl4 damage was judged by an increased production of MDA, depletion of cell GSH, and a decrease in cell antioxidant defense system. EAM pre-treatment normalizes the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the levels of GSH and MDA. These data are supported by the histopathological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that EAM has a similar significant protective effect, in vitro and in vivo, against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rat as silymarin.This may be due to its antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties.
Rumyana
R
Simeonova
Viktor M
VM
Bratkov
Magdalena
M
Kondeva-Burdina
Vessela
V
Vitcheva
Vassil
V
Manov
Ilina
I
Krasteva
D020001:1-Butanol; D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012997:Solvents; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D012997:Solvents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D020001:1-Butanol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
Astragalus monspesulans; Carbon tetrachloride; Hepatotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Phytochemical analysis