Background: Polysaccharides from seaweeds have been reported to possess biological activities with potential medicinal value. Present study was aimed to investigate hepatoprotective effect of crude sulphated polysaccharides extracted from Sargassum swartzii against acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Methods: The polysaccharides from S. swartzii was extracted at room temperature and at 70°C and named as EW 1 and EW 2. These fraction was given orally to rats at 200 mg/kg body weight. Liver injury was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen. Hepatic marker enzymes; alanine aminotransferases (ALT), aspartate aminotransferases (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin and other biochemical parameters; glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine were estimated in serum, while hepatic glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation were measured in liver tissue. Histopathology of liver tissues was also carried out. Results: Treatment with polysaccharides EW 1 & EW 2 fractions significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the hepatic marker enzymes and other biochemical parameters along with increased GSH and reduced lipid peroxidation. The EW 1 fraction of crude sulphated polysaccharides produced hepatoprotection more or less equivalent to silymarin (35 mg/kg), a commercial herbal drug, while some parameters showed better results than silymarin. These results were further confirmed with histology of liver. Conclusion: This study suggests that crude polysaccharides of S. swartzii has ability to protect against liver toxicity similar and/or better than silymarin (a standard drug) based on biochemical and histological findings. However toxicological studies would be recommended to evaluate any toxic effect of Sargassum swartzii.
Background
Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is one of the most important causes of liver dysfunction. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) an analgesic-antipyretic drug is generally considered safe but its overdose may cause liver toxicity. Marine macro-algae (seaweeds) especially brown seaweeds possess unique biological activities including hepatoprotective potential. The current study focused on the hepatoprotective effect of different solvent fractions of Sargassum ilicifolium and characterization of its n-hexane soluble fraction.
Methods
The ethanol extract (20 g) of S. ilicifolium was mixed with solvents of increasing polarity, starting with n-hexane followed by chloroform and methanol. All three (n-hexane, chloroform and methanol) soluble fractions were administered to the rats at dose of 150 mg/kg, b.w. Intraperitoneal administration of acetaminophen (600 mg/kg b.w.) to rats was used to cause liver injury. The hepatic damage was evaluated by liver markers enzymes; aspartate aminotransferases (AST), alanine aminotransferases (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin along with other metabolites i.e., triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, glucose and creatinine. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione and were estimated in liver tissue. n-Hexane fraction was subjected to GC-MS analysis in order to identify potent compounds.
Results
The oral administration of n-hexane and methanol soluble fractions reduced the acetaminophen-augmented liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, along with bilirubin, urea, creatinine, glucose and triglycerides. The n-hexane and methanol soluble fractions also improved hepatic antioxidant level via enhancing hepatic glutathione and reversing lipid peroxidation. GC-MS spectroscopy of n-hexane fraction of S. ilicifolium revealed the presence of some new compounds. Among them, fatty acids were found to be in highest concentration followed by halogenated hydrocarbons, benzene derivatives, and sterols. Fatty acid in seaweed may be one of the factors for hepatoprotection from drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
Conclusion
From the results, it is evident that n-hexane and methanol soluble fractions of S. ilicifolium have the ability to protect the liver against toxicity, which is comparable with silymarin used as a standard drug. Sargassum ilicifolium contains bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical importance.
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