Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extracts of prosopis farcta and lyclum shawll against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Background and Objective: Environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals are widely spread and can cause hepatotoxicity. In developing countries plant extracts are the main source for treatment of many ailments. The objective of this study is to investigate the protective effect of methanolic extracts of Prosopis farcta and Lycium shawii against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Material and Methods: The two plants were collected, identified and extracts were prepared. Phytochemical analysis for total phenolics, total tannins content, non-tannins phenolics and total flavonoids was performed. Liver damage was induced in rats by repeated administration of CCl4 (30% in olive oil (3 mL kg-1 b.wt., i.p.). Liver protection was accomplished in 2 groups of rats by daily oral administration of extract of Prosopis farcta and Lycium shawii (250 mg kg-1 b.wt.,) for 15 days prior to CCl4 administration. Liver marker enzymes, serum total bilirubin, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid profile, total antioxidant capacity were determined together with histopathological damage evaluation. Results: The CCl4 treatment increased significantly (p<0.05) liver marker enzymes, total bilirubin, MDA, GST, lipid profile and decreased significantly total serum protein, total antioxidant capacity, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and GSH. Prosopis farcta and Lycium shawii treatment significantly reversed the CCl4-induced changes, towards normalcy. Conclusion: Liver protection capability of these two plants may be due to their high contents of various flavonoids that act as powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers.