Solanum nigrum confers protection against CCl4-induced experimental hepatotoxicity by increasing hepatic protein synthesis and regulation of energy metabolism

Abstract

Hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is used as an experimental model to screen phytochemicals with liver protecting activity. Solanum nigrum (SN) is a shrub which is widely distributed throughout India. Traditionally the plant has been used for curing various ailments related to gastroenterology and hepatology. The present study was performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective property of S. nigrum extract standardized for its flavonoid content against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. The liver protecting property of SN was evaluated by means of various biochemical parameters and histopathologically. S. nigrum was administered to Swiss strain female albino mice with either 100/ 200/ 300 mg/kg body weight/day for 30 days along with CCl4 which is a well established model to induce hepatotoxicity. Administration of CCl4 for 30 days caused a significant increase in liver marker enzymes and a decrease in hepatic DNA, RNA and protein levels which was effectively mitigated by treatment with the plant extract in a dose dependent manner. Similarly co-treatment of the extract along with the hepatotoxin improved hepatic energy status by increasing the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Histopathological findings indicated severe vacuolization and necrotic changes after CCl4 treatment which was mitigated by the co-administration of SN extract in a dose-dependent manner. Carbon tetracholoride is known to exert hepatotoxicty by forming adducts with tissue macromolecules through covalent interactions. S. nigrum extract was found to effectively mitigate CCl4-induced changes in hepatic macromolecular content and energy status of liver tissue. The present study has identified the standardized S. nigrum as an effective hepatoprotective agent probably due to its role in improving the protein and energy levels in the hepatic tissue.