Caffeic acid rich Citrus macroptera peel powder supplementation prevented oxidative stress, fibrosis and hepatic damage in CCl4 treated rats

Abstract

Background: Citrus macroptera has been used as a culinary fruit and medicinal plant in traditional medicine system in Bangladesh. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds in Citrus macroptera peel powder and the protective effect of Citrus macroptera against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)induced liver injury in rats. Methods: The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters such as liver marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) and oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological changes in the liver of different groups were also studied. Results: Administration of CCl 4 increased the serum ALT, AST, ALP enzymatic activities and lipid peroxidation products but decreased the cellular antioxidant activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in rats which were brought back to near normal levels by the treatment with Citrus macroptera. Citrus macroptera administration has also shown to decrease the necrotic zones, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in CCl 4 treated rats. HPLC-DAD analysis of Citrus macroptera extract showed the great presence of caffeic acid and (−) epicatechin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Citrus macroptera exerts hepatoprotective activity via promoting the antioxidant defense against CCl 4-induced oxidative liver damage.

Anti-inflammatory Property of AMP-activated Protein Kinase

“…Elevated markers such as Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Bilirubin and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) have been associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and NAFLD subjects. Besides, Toll-Like Receptor (TLR), Interleukin (IL), Transforming Growth Factor (TGF), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Activator Protein (AP) also have been reported in liver damage models [ 25 ]. Cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells have been linked with pancreatic damage, making the subject to become diabetic [ 26 ].…”

“…Immunity, inflammation and inflammatory diseases have been recognized since the beginning of recorded medical knowledge and practice. Inflammation is a process of complex biological representation to cellular damage caused either by necrosis or infection or lysis, in which the feedback system by the immune system endeavors to neutralize or eliminate injurious stimuli and starts wound healing and regenerative processes [ 21 , 25 ]. For instance, interleukin-6, a key tumor-pro- moting inflammatory marker generated by innate immunity, signals, at least, three regeneration-promoting transcription factors such as Notch protein, yes-associated protein 1 (YAP), and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which are also involved in stem cell activation in both autocrine and paracrine systems.…”