title: Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of a New Tablets Formulation from Tamarindus indica L.
abstract: Hepatotoxic chemicals damage liver cells primarily by producing reactive oxygen species. The decoction of the leaves of Tamarindus indica L. is used for liver disorders. In this work we evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of a tablet formulation of this plant. Thirty-five Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7). First group (I) is control group, fed with standard diet. Groups II to V (hepatotoxic groups) were subjected to a subcutaneous injection of CCl4 (0.5 mL/kg). Group II was negative control, fed with standard diet; group III was subjected to administration of Silymarin 150 mg/kg and groups IV and V were treated with tablets in dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Lipid peroxidation and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione were evaluated. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and a lipid profile were evaluated too. The tablets inhibit lipid peroxidation. The redox balance (SOD-CAT-GSH) remains normal in the experimental groups treated with tablets. The liver function using dose of 200 mg/kg of tablets was better than the other experimental groups. These results justify, scientifically, the ethnobotanical use of the leaves of Tamarindus indica L.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Universidade Federal do Amapá, 68906-970 Macapá, AP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jesús Rafael
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Amado
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Universidade Federal do Amapá, 68906-970 Macapá, AP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariadna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafourcade Prada
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad de Oriente, 90500 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Escalona Arranz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad de Oriente, 90500 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez Rosés
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad de Oriente, 90500 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morris Quevedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Universidade Federal do Amapá, 68906-970 Macapá, AP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hady
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keita
authors.affiliation: Centro de Toxicología y Biomedicina, Universidad Médica de Santiago de Cuba, 90500 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puente Zapata
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Nanobiotecnologia Fitofarmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Amapá, 68906-970 Macapá, AP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinho Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad de Oriente, 90500 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tavares Carvalho