Protective effects of lycorine against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well-known model for inducing chemical hepatic injury in Swiss albino mice. The present study was designed to examine the ability of lycorine a natural alkaloid compound to prevent CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in the Swiss albino mice. After the experimental period of 8weeks, CCl4 significantly increased the generation of lipid peroxidation products, it reflected by high levels of malondialdehyde, hepatic marker enzymes like aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, Lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and lipids profiles. These increases were accompanied by significant decreases of glutathione (GSH); vitamin C content and significant reduction in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and GSH reductase were observed in the mice liver, which were normalized by the lycorine treatment as compared with CCl4-induced group of mice. Moreover, the histological and ultrastructural observations evidenced that lycorine effectively rescues the hepatocyte from CCl4-induced oxidative damage without disturbing its cellular metabolic function and structural integrity. Therefore, lycorine may be considered a potent antioxidant against free radical-related diseases. © 2011 The Authors Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology © 2011 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.