title: Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Salix subserrata against CCl4-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The liver performs diverse functions that are essential for life. In the absence of reliable liver protective drugs, a large number of natural medicinal preparations are used for the treatment of liver diseases. Therefore the present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Salix subserrata Willd flower ethanolic extract (SFEE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each. Group I served as the normal healthy control, groups II rats were intoxicated with CCl4 i.p. (0.8 ml/kg body weight CCl4/olive oil, twice weekly for 9 weeks), group III rats received CCl4 i.p. and SFEE orally (150 mg/kg daily) and group IV rats received CCl4 i.p. and Silymarin orally (100 mg/kg, daily). The hepatoprotective potential of SFEE in rats was evaluated by measuring the protein levels of two inflammatory biomarkers; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) in addition to other liver biomarkers. Histopathological changes in the liver were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administration of SFEE showed hepatic protection at an oral dose of 150 mg/kg. SFEE significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of intracellular liver enzymes as well as liver biomarkers in comparison to CCl4- intoxicated group. Notably, SFEE significantly reduced the expression levels of TNF-α and NFkB proteins compared to their levels in CCl4 intoxicated group. These findings were confirmed with the histopathological observations, where SFEE was capable of reversing the toxic effects of CCl4 on liver cells compared to that observed in CCl4-intoxicated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that SFEE has potential hepatoprotective effects at 150 mg/kg. These effects can be regarded to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519, Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519, Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Heba M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eltahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. m_meky2001@yahoo.com.|Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519, Minia, Egypt. m_meky2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mekky M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abouzied
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D032108:Salix / Q000737:chemistry*; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride
keywords: Carbon tetrachloride; Hepatoprotective; Liver injury; NFkB; Salix Subserrata; Silymarin; TNF-α