The ameliorative effects of Eremina desertorum snail mucin in combination with Silymarin against experimentally induced liver fibrosis

Abstract

Mucin is known by its biological and pharmacological activities. The aim of current study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective and the antioxidant activities of mucin extracted from Eremina desertorum snail as well as chemical profiling using GC-MS/MS analysis. This investigation confirmed the hepatoprotective and the antioxidant effects of mucin either alone or in combination with Silymarin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) liver damage. Male albino mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5ml /kg b.wt of 40% CCl4, twice/week for 8 weeks. The treated groups treated orally with Mucin (after 8 weeks of CCl4 intoxication, twice a week for four weeks) or Silymarin (from the first day of the experiment with a dose of 140 mg/kg, three times/week until the sacrifice day). After 12 weeks, all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Results showed that CCl4 induced a hepatotoxic effect represented in increasing liver enzymes, MDA and IL-2 while decreasing total protein, albumin, CAT, SOD and GSH. Amelioration in these parameters occurred after treatment of CCl4 intoxicated mice with either Silymarin or E. desertorum mucin where they caused increases in the activity of the antioxidant parameters while, reduced the level of MDA and liver enzymes activity. Also, the histopathological alterations that caused by CCl4 were improved after the treatment with this extract. GC-MS/MS analyses led to the identification of ten compounds were categorized as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, quinolines, and fatty acid esters. Conclusively, E. desertorum mucin enhanced antioxidant activity and ameliorated the CCl4-induced liver damage and it could be used as a hepatoprotective agent.