Hepatoprotective Effect of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha Fruits against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Damage

Abstract

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious health problem in developed countries. N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), the current therapy for APAP-induced ALF, is not always effective, and liver transplantation is often needed. Opuntia spp. fruits are an important source of nutrients and contain high levels of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha extracts against APAP-induced ALF. In addition, we analyzed the antioxidant activities of these extracts. Fruit extracts (800 mg/kg/day, orally) were given prophylactically to male Wistar rats before intoxication with APAP (500 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Rat hepatocyte cultures were exposed to 20 mmol/L APAP, and necrosis was assessed by LDH leakage. Opuntia robusta had significantly higher levels of antioxidants than Opuntia streptacantha. Both extracts significantly attenuated APAP-induced injury markers AST, ALT and ALP and improved liver histology. The Opuntia extracts reversed APAP-induced depletion of liver GSH and glycogen stores. In cultured hepatocytes, Opuntia extracts significantly reduced leakage of LDH and cell necrosis, both prophylactically and therapeutically. Both extracts appeared to be superior to NAC when used therapeutically. We conclude that Opuntia extracts are hepatoprotective and can be used as a nutraceutical to prevent ALF.

Emerging Applications of Fermented Fruit Enzyme Beverages as Nutraceutical, Functional Food, and Designer Food Products: A Review

“…Rat hepatocyte cultures were exposed to 20mmol/LAPAP, and necrosis was assessed by LDH leakage. Opuntia robusta had significantly higher levels of antioxidants than Opuntia streptacantha 125 . Wild edible fruits contribute significantly to the nutritional security of mankind across the globe.…”

Physicochemical Composition, Antioxidant Profile and Anticancer Potentialities of Chico (<em>Pachycereus Weberi</em>) and Jiotilla (<em>Escontria Chiotilla</em>) Fruits Extract

“…Jiotilla juice showed higher value of cytotoxicity (47.31±0.03) in HepG2 than Opuntia rastrera 78.90±9.00 [7].Betanin from beetroot presented a 49% inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation [68]. Other benefits that cacti juices have shown are hepatoprotective effect in-vitro and in-vivo [3,69]. Jiotilla juice (53.65±0.04) diminished the cell viability in PC-3 than moradillo Opuntia violaceae 61.20±5.30 [7].…”

“…Mexico has a great diversity of cacti [1], but many of the fruits from these plants have not been studied. Cacti fruits have health benefits such as anticlastogenic capacity [2], hepatoprotective effect [3], antimicrobial activity [4] and high antioxidant capacity [5,6]. In addition, prickle pear juices (Opuntia spp.)…”

Natural Products for Prevention and Treatment of Chemical‐Induced Liver Injuries

“…Guava ( Psidium guajava ) polysaccharide was found to attenuate rat liver injury induced by APAP by increasing the endogenous antioxidant defense (Alias et al., ). In addition, 2 common vegetables (fruits of cactus Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha ) were investigated, and their hepatoprotective effects were demonstrated even more potent than that of N ‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC), one of the treatments for APAP overdose as a precursor of intracellular cysteine and GSH (Mahmoodi, Soleimani, Shariatzadeh, Eimani, & Shahverdi, ; Gonzalez‐Ponce et al., ). Moreover, apigenin, found in many fruits and vegetables, was reported to increase hepatic GSH and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in mice with APAP‐induced liver injury (Yang, Wang, Xue, Gu, & Xie, ).…”