Protective Effect of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil in Experimental Model of Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury

Abstract

To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Cymbopogon citratus or lemongrass essential oil (LGO), it was used in an animal model of acute liver injury induced by acetaminophen (APAP). Swiss mice were pretreated with LGO (125, 250 and 500[Formula: see text]mg/kg) and SLM (standard drug, 200[Formula: see text]mg/kg) for a duration of seven days, followed by the induction of hepatotoxicity of APAP (single dose, 250[Formula: see text]mg/kg). The liver function markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase were determined to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of the LGO. The livers were used to determine myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitric oxide (NO) production and histological analysis. The effect of LGO on leukocyte migration was evaluated in vitro. Anti-oxidant activity was performed by assessing the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro. LGO pretreatment decreased significantly the levels of ALT, AST and ALP compared with APAP group. MPO activity and NO production were decreased. The histopathological analysis showed an improved of hepatic lesions in mice after LGO pretreatment. LGO inhibited neutrophil migration and exhibited anti-oxidant activity. Our results suggest that LGO has protective activity against liver toxicity induced by paracetamol.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Citral on Acetaminophen‐Induced Liver Toxicity in Mice

“…The constituent citral was isolated from lemongrass essential oil as fractions of hydrodistilled oil and was identified by GC-MS and NMR as previously described [11]. …”

“…The percentage of the RSC was calculated using the following equation: RSC (%) = 100 × ( A blank − A sample / A blank ). The IC 50 value, representing the concentration of the citral that caused 50% RSC inhibition, was determined by linear regression analysis from the obtained RSC values [11, 13]. …”

“…The stock solution was used as the first concentration of 50 mg/mL and after that was diluted in 0.1% Tween 80 solution to prepare the solutions of 25 and 12.5 mg/mL. After 12 h of APAP administration, serum samples and liver tissue were collected followed by biochemistry and histological analysis [11, 13]. …”

“…The enzymatic reaction was stopped by addition of sodium acetate. Enzyme activity was determined by absorbance measured at 450 nm using microplate spectrophotometer (Asys Expert Plus) [11, 13]. …”

“…The reading was taken using an ELISA plate reader at a wavelength of 550 nm. NO production was calculated from a standard curve of sodium nitrite [11, 16]. The results were expressed as μ M.…”