title: Evaluation of Hepatoprotective activity of Eriocaulon quinquangulare in vitro using porcine liver slices against ethanol induced liver toxicity and free radical scavenging capacity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Production of reactive oxygen species is a common cause in alcohol induced liver diseases. Decoction prepared from the whole plant of Eriocaulon quinquingulare is prescribed to treat liver disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity and antioxidant capacity of the water extract of E. quinquangulare in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aqueous extract of the whole plant of E. quinquangulare (AEQ) was investigated for its phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and membrane stabilization properties in-vitro. The antioxidant activities of AEQ were investigated using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Membrane stabilizing effect of the extract was determined by hypotonic solution induced human erythrocyte hemolytic assay (HEHA). Further, hepatoprotective activity against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity was carried out using porcine liver slices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total phenolics and flavonoids were 10.3 ± 1.6 w/w % gallic acid equivalents and 45.6 ± 3.8 w/w % (-)-epigallocatechin gallate equivalents respectively. The values of EC50 for DPPH, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging assays were 37.2 ± 1.7 μg/ml, 170.5 ± 6.6 μg/ml and 31.8 ± 2.2 μg/ml respectively. The reducing capability of AEQ was 6.9 ± 0.2 w/w % L-ascorbic acid equivalents in the FRAP assay. For hypotonic solution induced HEHA, the IC50 was 1.79 ± 0.04 mg/ml. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in ALT, AST and LDH release from the liver slices treated with AEQ compared to the ethanol treated liver slices. A significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (p < 0.05) was also observed in liver slices treated with the plant extract compared to that of the ethanol treated liver slices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest AEQ possess hepatoprotective activity against ethanol induced liver toxicity of porcine liver slices which can be attributed to antioxidant properties and membrane stabilizing effects caused by the plant material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, 08, Sri Lanka. dilankafdo86@gmail.com.|College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka. dilankafdo86@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chamira Dilanka
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, 08, Sri Lanka. indunilsree@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Preethi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soysa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D039262:Eriocaulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013552:Swine; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids; D005609:Free Radicals; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D000637:Transaminases