TL;DR
Diosgenin and Gallic Acid demonstrate significant hepatoprotective activity against chemically induced liver injury, with combined administration producing enhanced protective effects.
Overall, chrysin demonstrates potent protective potential against PFOA-induced liver injury and may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for environmental toxin-associated hepatotoxicity.
ABSTRACT Introduction: Chlorpyrifos (CPF), one of the most widely used organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, exerts its toxic effects in part by inducing oxidative stress. Despite increasing recognition of natural antioxidants as potential countermeasures, the efficacy of asiatic acid (AA), a bioactive triterpenoid from Centella asiatica, against CPF-induced toxicity remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of AA against CPF-incuded toxicity model in rats by analyzing biochemical and histological parameters in serum, liver, and brain tissues. Material and Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) were randomly divided into five groups: control, CPF (279 mg/kg, subcutaneously), and three AA-pretreated groups (35, 70, and 140 mg/kg, per os) for 14 days prior to CPF exposure. Oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP)] and antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were measured in serum, liver, and brain. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses assessed tissue injury and apoptotic responses. Results: AA administration significantly attenuated CPF-induced oxidative damage and restored antioxidant defenses in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological analyses confirmed that AA mitigated hepatic and neuronal damage and preserved tissue architecture. Immunohistochemistry revealed that AA suppressed CPF-induced upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), indicating reduced apoptosis. Conclusion: This study provides the first demonstration that AA exerts robust systemic antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects against CPF-induced toxicity. These findings highlight AA’s therapeutic potential for mitigating organophosphate pesticide poisoning, warranting further translational research. Keywords: Asiatic acid, chlorpyrifos, hepatoprotection, neuroprotection, organophosphate toxicity, oxidative stress
It is indicated that combining papaya, neem, and garlic extracts may provide greater hepatoprotection than administering the individual extracts against DEN-induced liver injury, and supports further mechanistic and preclinical evaluation of this polyherbal formulation before its potential therapeutic application in liver-disease management.
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE Digera muricata (DM) contains phenolic compounds and quercetin and β-caryophyllene, which exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. The present study was conducted with the objective of examining the hepatoprotective role of DM ethanolic extract in a hepatotoxic model of Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into the following groups: Normal Control (NC); hepatotoxic disease control (DC); hepatotoxic group treated with a low dose (LD) of DM (LDDM-INH+RIF); hepatotoxic group treated with a high dose (HD) of DM (HDDMINH+RIF), and reference control (RC) standard drug silymarin for 21 days. The hepatoprotective action was explored by measuring various liver function enzymes and lipid profiles. Oxidative stress parameters were investigated by their concentrations in the plasma and liver tissue of all study groups. RESULTS Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of DM extract were 69.48 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents per gram (GAE/g) and 49.59 mg Catechin Equivalents per gram (CE/g), respectively. Gallic acid (6.89 mg/g) and rutin (24.78 mg/g) were identified as the predominant phenolic compounds. The extract exhibited 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 179 µg/mL compared to 20.65 µg/mL for BHT. DISCUSSION Treatment with DM significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum cholesterol, total protein, and triglyceride levels in LDDM-INH+RIF and HDDM-INH+RIF groups relative to hepatotoxic control. Similarly, plasma liver function enzymes were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant analysis indicated a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), accompanied by a significant decline in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both plasma and liver tissues compared with the disease control group. CONCLUSION DM exhibited significant hepatoprotective effects in isoniazid- and rifampicininduced hepatotoxic rats, primarily through its antioxidant activity. The extract enhanced hepatic and plasma antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH) while reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA). It also normalized liver function markers, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, consistent with histopathological improvements. These protective effects are attributed to the phenolic and flavonoid constituents of the extract.
Introduction: Paracetamol (PCM) overdose is a major contributor to acute liver failure, mainly resulting from oxidative stress and the depletion of Glutathione (GSH) triggered by its toxic byproduct, N-Acetyl-P-Benzoquinone Imine (NAPQI). Conventional hepatoprotective agents have limitations, prompting interest in medicinal plants. Tagetes patula (French marigold), traditionally used for hepatic disorders, contains flavonoids and terpenoids with potential antioxidant activity, but its hepatoprotective effects remain underexplored. Aim: To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Aqueous Extract of Tagetes patula flowers (AETP) against PCM-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: This an experimental animal study was conducted at the Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, India from November 2021 to May 2022. A total of 25 adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups (n=5). Group I received vehicle (control), Group II received PCM (2 g/kg; toxic control), Group III received PCM + silymarin (25 mg/kg; standard), and Groups IV and V received PCM + AETP (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively) for seven days. Serum AST, ALT, and ALP levels were measured, and liver histology was examined. Data were analysed using one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc test. Results: The PCM caused significant elevation of AST, ALT, and ALP (p<0.001) and severe histopathological damage. Silymarin markedly reduced enzyme levels and preserved hepatic architecture. AETP treatment produced a dosedependent hepatoprotective effect: 200 mg/kg partially improved biochemical and histological parameters, while 400 mg/kg significantly reduced enzyme levels (p<0.05 vs toxic) and showed improved hepatic architecture. Conclusion: The AETP flower extract demonstrates dosedependent protective effects on the liver against PCM-induced liver injury, likely attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Additional research is required to elucidate its underlying mechanisms and validate its therapeutic efficacy