Comparative Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extracts ofCuscuta australisagainst Acetaminophen Intoxication in Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study investigates the comparative hepatoprotective activity of crude ethanol extracts of Cuscuta australis against acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6 replicates: Group 1 which served as control received water. Group 2 was orally administered 835 mg/kg body wt. of paracetamol on day 8. Groups 3 and 4 were orally administered ethanolic extracts of the seed of Cuscuta australis in doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Group 2 on the 8th day. Groups 5 and 6 received similar oral doses of Cuscuta australis stem extracts for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Groups 3 and 4. Group 2 rats showed severe periportal hepatic necrosis, significantly elevated serum hepatic injury markers, markedly increased lipid peroxidation, and decreased hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities. Remarkably, Cuscuta australis (seed and stem) extract pretreatments in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6, most especially, the stem extract pretreatment in Groups 5 and 6, improved better the hepatic histoarchitecture, the hepatocellular, and the oxidative stress injury markers in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusively, ethanol extractions of Cuscuta australis stem appear to protect the liver from acetaminophen intoxication better than the seed counterpart.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanol Extract of Annona cherimola Mill. On Paracetamol-Induced Liver Toxicity in Rats

“…Oxidative stress is generally caused by a very high level of NAPQI and can contribute to the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol through lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial damage. [4][5] Measurement of serum markers such as AST, ALT and ALP is of great value in evaluating clinical and experimental liver damage. 7 The ALT enzyme is more specific to the liver and is a better parameter to analyze liver injury, whereas, high levels of AST indicate cell loss, as well as loss of the functional capacity of the cell membrane in the liver and serum ALP is also related to liver cell damage.…”

“…However, excessive use of paracetamol has the potential to precipitate liver damage in both humans and animals. [5][6] In the liver, by action of cytochrome P450, paracetamol is converted into a highly toxic metabolite called N-acetyl-pbenzoquinamine (NAPQI), which under normal conditions, is easily detoxified by conjugation with the enzyme glutathione antioxidant, but an excess of NAPQI causes an imbalance in reactive oxygen Considering these antecedents, the present study evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of A. cherimola on hepatic toxicity induced by paracetamol in rats.…”

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species (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes, causing severe liver damage. 5,7,8 Given that, natural products are attracting the interest of many researchers to determine their potential usefulness for the treatment of liver diseases. 4 Some plants have been studied for their hepatoprotective activity, these plants include Silybum marianum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Phyllanthus species (P. amarus, P. niruri, P. emblica) and Rosmarinus officinalis, Psidium guajava, Picrorhiza kurroa.

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A Review on the Botanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Characteristics of Cuscuta Spp.

“…[25], Cuscuta japonica Choisy [26], Cuscuta australis R. Br. [27], Cuscuta Parasitic Plants europaea Linn. [28], Cuscuta gigantea Griff.…”

The Herbal Cocktail GSYJ Attenuated Airway Inflammatory Cell Infiltration in a Chronic Asthmatic Mouse Model

“…In addition, C. australis R. Br. has been shown to exert hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats [ 11 ]. C. australis R. Br.…”