Antioxidants of Phyllanthus emblica L. Bark Extract Provide Hepatoprotection against Ethanol‐Induced Hepatic Damage: A Comparison with Silymarin

Abstract

Phyllanthus emblica L. (amla) has been used in Ayurveda as a potent rasayan for treatment of hepatic disorders. Most of the pharmacological studies, however, are largely focused on PE fruit, while the rest of the parts of PE, particularly, bark, remain underinvestigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Phyllanthus emblica bark (PEE) in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content and in vitro antioxidant activities were determined by using H2O2 scavenging and ABTS decolorization assays. Our results showed that PEE was rich in total phenols (99.523 ± 1.91 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (389.33 ± 1.25 mg quercetin hydrate/g), and total tannins (310 ± 0.21 mg catechin/g), which clearly support its strong antioxidant potential. HPTLC-based quantitative analysis revealed the presence of the potent antioxidants gallic acid (25.05 mg/g) and ellagic acid (13.31 mg/g). Moreover, one-month PEE treatment (500 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) followed by 30-day 70% ethanol (10 mL/kg) administration showed hepatoprotection as evidenced by significant restoration of ALT (p < 0.01), AST (p < 0.001), ALP (p < 0.05), and TP (p < 0.001) and further confirmed by liver histopathology. PEE-mediated hepatoprotection could be due to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity that may be ascribed to its antioxidant components, namely, ellagic acid and gallic acid. Thus, the results of the present study support the therapeutic claims made in Ayurveda about Phyllanthus emblica.

Ethnopharmacological Applications Targeting Alcohol Abuse: Overview and Outlook

“…Studies also showed that Monolluma quadrangula (Forssk.) Plowes, Geranium schiedeanum Schltdl., and Phyllanthus emblica L. are also effective in this respect (Ibrahim et al, 2015;Madrigal-Santillán et al, 2015;Chaphalkar et al, 2017). Recently a number of reviews have been published on the topic (Guan et al, 2018;Singh et al, 2018).…”

The possibilities of silymarin extract use in alcoholic liver disease – a literature review

“…In this group there was noted a significantly lower value of ALT and AST activity and alkaline phosphatase in the plasma compared to the group that received only 70% ethanol (10 ml/kg body weight per day). Furthermore, histopathological data showed hepatocyte damage with numerous areas of necrosis in the group of rats receiving ethanol while in the animals that did receive silymarin together with ethanol, the picture of liver parenchyma was correct with only minor inflammatory changes in a few hepatocytes without characteristics of necrosis [50]. Lieber et al [49] indicate that the cause of the differing results of various studies may be the application of silymarin in too small doses.…”

“…The researchers concluded that silymarin inhibits the development of liver fibrosis caused by ethyl alcohol consumption [49]. These results are in accordance with those of most recent studies by Chaphalkar et al [50] carried out with the aid of the animal damaged liver model in a group of rats receiving grupą a grupą kontrolną nieprzyjmującą sylimaryny. Autorzy podkreślają, że sylimaryna była dobrze tolerowana, ale choć odnotowano korzystne zmiany we krwi pacjentów (zmniejszenie stężenia MDA i aminokońcowego propeptydu prokolagenu typu III), to wyniki testów wątrobowych pozostały bez zmian [46].…”

“…Wyniki te są zgodne z wynikami najnowszych badań Chaphalkara i wsp. [50], prowadzonych z wykorzystaniem zwierzęcego modelu alkoholowego uszkodzenia wątroby w grupie szczurów otrzymujących przez 30 dni sylimarynę w dawce 25 mg/kg m.c./dobę oraz 70-procentowy alkohol etylowy w dawce 10 mg/ kg m.c./dobę. W tej grupie stwierdzono istotne niższe wartości aktywności ALT, AST i fosfatazy alkalicznej w osoczu w porównaniu z grupą, która otrzymywała wyłącznie 70-procentowy etanol (dawka 10 ml/ kg m.c./dobę).…”

Augmenting fish health usingEmblica officinalisagainst triarylmethane dye induced blood toxicity inCyprinus carpio

“…The phytoconstituents of plant extract possess antioxidative, anti-stress, appetite inducer and disease resistance properties (Chakraborty & Hancz, 2011;Citarasu, 2010;Mirghaed, Fayaz, & Hoseini, 2019). Emblica officinalis is easily available and economically viable plant, possessing antioxidative, hepatoprotective and immunostimulant properties (Chaphalkar, Apte, Talekar, Ojha, & Nandave, 2017;Hazra, Sarkar, Biswas, & Mandal, 2010;Tahir, Khan, Shah, & Aftab, 2016;Tan et al, 2018). Marker enzymes (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [SGOT], serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) are released in detectable concentration from damaged tissues in blood.…”