Hepatoprotective and proapoptotic effect of Ecballium elaterium on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of perorally administered juice on tetrachloromethane (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were tube-administrated silymarin, Ecballium juice at 0.2 mL/kg and 0.7 mL/kg daily for 3 consequent days, i.e., 3.28 μg and 11.48 μg of cucurbitacin B per kg of body weight respectively. On the third day, liver damage was induced by intraperitoneal application of CCl4. On the fourth day, abdominal cavity was macroscopically examined and liver samples were taken for histopathological and immunochemical evaluation. HPLC was used to determine the content of the active substance cucurbitacin B.


RESULTS
The experiment revealed that 0.7 ml/kg juice concentration expressed the highest pro-apoptotic activity, but with prevailing negative effects. Compared with the lower concentration, there was an observable vasodilatation with consequent interstitial hemorrhages and a larger scope of inflammatory damage, which suppressed the hepatoprotective effect. In the 0.2 mL/kg concentration, there was a smaller pro-apoptotic activity but other parameters had better results, and the liver parenchyma damage was reversible.


CONCLUSIONS
No reactions confirming the potentially allergic effect on laboratory rats were observed; its hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed on a model of acute liver damage.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy Damanhur University, Egypt.
El Moataz Bellah
el MB
El Naggar
Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: chalupovam@vfu.cz.
Marta
M
Chalupová
Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Gabriela
G
Pražanová
Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Tomáš
T
Parák
Department of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Emil
E
Švajdlenka
Department of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Milan
M
Žemlička
Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Pavel
P
Suchý
Apoptosis; Ecballium elaterium; Hepatotoxicity; Rats; Tetrachloromethane