Inulin-type fructan and infusion of Artemisia vulgaris protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.

BACKGROUND: Infusions of aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asteraceae) are used in herbal medicine to treat several disorders, including hepatosis. PURPOSE: Evaluation of in vivo hepatoprotective effects of A. vulgaris infusion (VI) and inulin (VPI; i.e., the major polysaccharide of VI). STUDY DESIGN: The hepatoprotective effect of A. vulgaris extracts on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity and the probable mechanism involved in this protection were investigated in mice. METHODS: A. vulgaris infusion (VI) was prepared according to folk medicine using the aerial parts of the plant. Carbohydrate, protein, and total phenolic content was determined in VI, and its phenolic profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Male Swiss mice were orally pretreated for 7 days with VI or VPI (once per day). On days 6 and 7 of treatment, the mice were intraperitoneally challenged with CCl4. Liver and blood were collected and markers of hepatic damage in plasma and oxidative stress in the liver were analyzed. Hepatic histology and inflammatory parameters were also studied in the liver. The scavenging activity of VI and VPI were evaluated in vitro using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. RESULTS: VI contained 40% carbohydrates, 2.9% proteins and 9.8% phenolic compounds. The HPLC fingerprint analysis of VI revealed chlorogenic, caffeic and dicaffeoylquinic acids as major low-molar-mass constituents. Oral pretreatment with VI and VPI significantly attenuated CCl4-induced liver damage, reduced the activity of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma, and prevented reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Comparisons with the CCl4-treated group showed that VI and VPI completely prevented necrosis, increased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), and reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in the liver. VI and VPI also exhibited high radical scavenging activity in vitro. CONCLUSION: VI and VPI had remarkable hepatoprotective effects in vivo, which were likely attributable to antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The present findings support the traditional use of A. vulgaris infusion for the treatment of hepatic disorders.

Hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera promotes gastroprotection and healing of acute and chronic gastric ulcers induced by ethanol and acetic acid.

Ethanol is a psychoactive substance highly consumed around the world whose health problems include gastric lesions. Baccharis trimera is used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. However, few studies have evaluated its biological and toxic effects. To validate the popular use of B. trimera and elucidate its possible antiulcerogenic and cytotoxic mechanisms, a hydroethanolic extract of B. trimera (HEBT) was evaluated in models of gastric lesions. Rats and mice were used to evaluate the protective and antiulcerogenic effects of HEBT on gastric lesions induced by ethanol, acetic acid, and chronic ethanol consumption. The effects of HEBT were also evaluated in a pylorus ligature model and on gastrointestinal motility. The LD50 of HEBT in mice was additionally estimated. HEBT was analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance, and a high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint analysis was performed. Oral HEBT administration significantly reduced the lesion area and the oxidative stress induced by acute and chronic ethanol consumption. However, HEBT did not protect against gastric wall mucus depletion and did not alter gastric secretory volume, pH, or total acidity in the pylorus ligature model. Histologically, HEBT accelerated the healing of chronic gastric ulcers in rats, reflected by contractions of the ulcer base. Flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids were detected in HEBT, which likely contributed to the therapeutic efficacy of HEBT, preventing or reversing ethanol- and acetic acid-induced ulcers, respectively. HEBT antiulcerogenic activity may be partially attributable to the inhibition of free radical generation and subsequent prevention of lipid peroxidation. Our results indicate that HEBT has both gastroprotective and curative activity in animal models, with no toxicity.

Sydnone 1: A Mesoionic Compound with Antitumoral and Haematological Effects In Vivo.

This study evaluated the antitumour activity of the mesoionic compound sydnone 1 (Syd-1) against Walker-256 carcinosarcoma. Tumour cells were subcutaneously inoculated in the hind limb in male Wistar rats. The animals were orally treated for 12 days with Syd-1 (75 mg/kg) or vehicle. At the end of treatment, considerable decreases in tumour volume and tumour weight were observed in treated animals. Samples of these tumours presented increases in apoptotic bodies and pro-apoptotic protein expression (Bax and p53), while the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was reduced. A decrease in reduced glutathione levels and an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity were observed in tumour after Syd-1 treatment. However, significant splenomegaly was evident in animals that received Syd-1, most likely attributable to the induction of haemolysis. This study demonstrated the antitumour activity of Syd-1 against Walker-256 carcinosarcoma. Its mechanism of action is linked to the activation of apoptotic pathways that lead to tumour cell death.