title: Genoprotective and hepatoprotective effects of Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart. var. sorbilis) on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little information is available on its effects on the liver.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and genoprotective effects of powder seeds from guarana on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were pretreated with guarana powder (100, 300 and 600 mg/kg) or silymarin 100 mg/kg daily for 14 days before treatment with a single dose of CCl4 (50% CCl4, 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment with CCl4 significantly increased the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, CCl4 increased the DNA damage index in hepatocytes. Guarana in all concentrations was effective in decreasing the ALT and AST activities when compared with the CCl4-treated group. The treatment with guarana decreased DNA damage index when compared with the CCl4-treated group. In addition, the DNA damage index showed a significant positive correlation with AST and ALT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the guarana has hepatoprotective activity and prevents the DNA strand breakage in the CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.
authors: a Pharmacology Postgraduate Program .
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Kober
authors: b Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program , and.|c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Etiane
authors: E
authors: Tatsch
authors: b Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program , and.|c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Vanessa Dorneles
authors: VD
authors: Torbitz
authors: c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Lara Peruzzolo
authors: LP
authors: Cargnin
authors: b Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program , and.|c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Manuela Borges
authors: MB
authors: Sangoi
authors: a Pharmacology Postgraduate Program .|c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Guilherme Vargas
authors: GV
authors: Bochi
authors: b Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program , and.
authors: Andreia Regina Haas
authors: AR
authors: da Silva
authors: a Pharmacology Postgraduate Program .
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Barbisan
authors: d Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas , Manaus , Amazonas , Brazil.
authors: Euler Esteves
authors: EE
authors: Ribeiro
authors: a Pharmacology Postgraduate Program .
authors: Ivana Beatrice Mânica
authors: IB
authors: da Cruz
authors: a Pharmacology Postgraduate Program .|b Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program , and.|c Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry , Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil , and.
authors: Rafael Noal
authors: RN
authors: Moresco
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013805:Theobromine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012838:Silymarin; C092099:guarana powder; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D013805:Theobromine
keywords: Genoprotection; Paullinia cupanna; liver; medicinal plants