The Protective Effect of Artocarpus altilis Leaf Extract on Rat Models of Diethylene Glycol-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Diethylene glycol (DEG), an alcohol derivative, is metabolized into toxic products and is one of the main causes of liver disease. The compounds contained in Artocarpus altilis (AA) leaves include sapogenin, cycloartenone, cycloartenol, β-sitosterol, and tannins. These compounds show estrogenic activity and flavonoids have antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective roles. This study aims to determine the hepatoprotective effect of AA by analyzing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and liver hypertrophy in the DEG-induced rat model. Twenty-five male rats were divided into 5 groups: normal, DEG (0.75% v/v), AA1 (DEG + AA 100 mg/kg BW), AA2 (DEG + AA 200 mg/kg BW), and AA3 (DEG + AA 400 mg/kg BW). Rats were given DEG for 28 days ad libitum, and AA was administered from days 14 to 28 orally. Twenty-eight days later, serum levels of MDA, ALT, AST, and liver hypertrophy were determined. DEG induction increased body weight and liver hypertrophy, levels of MDA, ALT, and AST, whereas treatment with AA was shown to reverse to normal conditions which were observed for 28 days depending on the dose of AA (p < 0.05). We conclude that treatment with AA is an effective therapeutic option as a hepatoprotector in a rat model induced by DEG in a dose-dependent manner. Future challenges need to be developed as prospective complementary drugs or phytopharmaceuticals.