title: Phytochemical, antioxidant and protective effect of cactus cladodes extract against lithium-induced liver injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Castaceae) (cactus) is used in Tunisian medicine for the treatment of various diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determines phytochemical composition of cactus cladode extract (CCE). It also investigates antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of CCE against lithium carbonate (Li2CO3)-induced liver injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Wistar male rats were divided into four groups of six each: a control group given distilled water (0.5 mL/100 g b.w.; i.p.), a group injected with Li2CO3(25 mg/kg b.w.; i.p.; corresponding to 30% of the LD50) twice daily for 30 days, a group receiving only CCE at 100 mg/kg of b.w. for 60 days and then injected with distilled water during the last 30 days of CCE treatment, and a group receiving CCE and then injected with Li2CO3during the last 30 days of CCE treatment. The bioactive components containing the CCE were identified using chemical assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with Li2CO3caused a significant change of some haematological parameters including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin content (Hb), haematocrit (Ht) and mean corpuscular volume (VCM) compared to the control group. Moreover, significant increases in the levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were observed in the blood of Li2CO3-treated rats. Furthermore, exposure to Li2CO3significantly increased the LPO level and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the hepatic tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCE possesses a significant hepatoprotective effect.
authors.affiliation: a Research Unit of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa , University of Gafsa , Gafsa , Tunisia.|b Research Unit of Active Biomolecules Valorisation, High Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine , University of Gabes , Medenine , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Anouar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Saad
authors.affiliation: a Research Unit of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa , University of Gafsa , Gafsa , Tunisia.|c Laboratory of Research on Biologically Compatible Compounds, Faculty of Dental Medicine , University of Monastir , Gafsa , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Brahmi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dalel
authors.affiliation: a Research Unit of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa , University of Gafsa , Gafsa , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ilhem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rjeibi
authors.affiliation: a Research Unit of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa , University of Gafsa , Gafsa , Tunisia.|b Research Unit of Active Biomolecules Valorisation, High Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine , University of Gabes , Medenine , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smida
authors.affiliation: d Common Services Unit, Faculty of Sciences Gafsa, University of Gafsa , Gafsa , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ncib
authors.affiliation: e High Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine , University of Gabes , Medenine , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nacim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.affiliation: b Research Unit of Active Biomolecules Valorisation, High Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine , University of Gabes , Medenine , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Lazhar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zourgui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002614:Chelating Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016651:Lithium Carbonate
keywords: Alkali metal; histopathology; liver damage; oxidative stress