ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Cassia auriculata leaf extract on tissue lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in experimental hepatotoxicity. Administering ethanol to rats for 60 days resulted in significantly elevated levels of serum total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as compared with those of the experimental control rats. Significantly elevated levels of tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxides and lowered activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also observed on alcohol treatment as compared with those of experimental control rats. Concentration of serum non-enzymic antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C were also significantly lowered on alcohol supplementation. Treatment with Cassia auriculata leaf extract at a dose of 250 mg kg(-1) body weight and 500 mg kg(-1) body weight to rats administered alcohol, lowered the levels of TBARS and hydroperoxides and elevated the activities of SOD and CAT and the levels of reduced GSH in the liver, brain, kidney and intestine significantly compared to unsupplemented alcohol treated rats. Cassia auriculata leaf extract treatment restored the serum vitamin E, and vitamin C levels also to near those of the experimental control animals. Our data indicate that supplementation with Cassia auriculata leaf extract can offer protection against free radical mediated oxidative stress in experimental hepatotoxicity. In addition, histopathological studies of the liver and brain confirmed the beneficial role of Cassia auriculata leaf extract.
Subject(s)
Cassia/chemistry , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/diet therapy , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Animals , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Bilirubin/blood , Catalase/blood , Glutathione/analysis , Hydrogen Peroxide/analysis , Liver/chemistry , Liver/pathology , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/pathology , Male , Oxidation-Reduction , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Superoxide Dismutase/blood , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/analysisABSTRACT
We studied the effect of administering Cassia auriculata leaf extract to rats with experimentally induced liver damage. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering 9.875 g/kg bodyweight ethanol for 30 days by intragastric intubation. C. auriculata leaf extract was administered at a dose of 250 mg/kg bodyweight daily in one group and 500 mg/kg bodyweight daily in another group of alcohol-treated rats. All rats were fed with standard pellets. The control rats were also given isocaloric glucose solution. The average bodyweight gain was significantly lower in alcohol-treated rats, but improved on supplementation with C. auriculata leaf extract. Alcohol supplementation significantly elevated the cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride concentration in the liver, brain, kidney and intestine, as compared with those of the normal control rats. Treatment with C. auriculata leaf extract and alcohol significantly lowered the tissue lipid levels to almost normal levels. Microscopic examination of alcohol-treated rat liver showed inflammatory cell infiltrates and fatty changes, which were reversed on treatment with C. auriculata leaf extract. Similarly, alcohol-treated rat brain demonstrated spongiosis, which was markedly reduced on treatment with C. auriculata. In conclusion, this study shows that treatment with C. auriculata leaf extract has a lipid-lowering effect in rats with experimentally induced, alcohol-related liver damage. This is associated with a reversal of steatosis in the liver and of spongiosis in the brain. The mechanism of C. auriculata leaf extract lipid-lowering potential is unclear.
