Aqueous garlic extract attenuates hepatitis and oxidative stress induced by galactosamine/lipoploysaccharide in rats

Ameliorative effect of biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles using garlic extract on the body weight and developmental toxicity of liver in albino rats compared with chemically synthesized nanoparticles

The application of metallic nanoparticles poses risks to human and animal health. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) are the most commonly synthesized metallic oxides in the world. Exposure to TiO₂NPs can cause toxicity in the target organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of green and chemical TiO₂NPs on maternal and embryo-fetal livers. Green TiO₂NPs using garlic extract (GTiO₂NPs) and chemical TiO₂NPs (CHTiO₂NPs) were synthesized and characterized by x-ray powder diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The cytotoxicity of both chemical and green TiO₂NPs was determined against HepG₂ cell lines. Fifty pregnant female Albino rats were equally and randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 was kept as a control. Groups 2 and 3 were orally treated with 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight of CHTiO₂NPs, respectively. Groups 4 and 5 were orally treated with 100 and 300 mg/kg of GTiO₂NPs, respectively, from day 6 to 19 of gestation. All dams were euthanized on gestation day 20. All live fetuses were weighed and euthanized. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, histopathological, and Bax-immunohistochemical expression analyses. Our results indicated that garlic could be used as a reducing agent for the synthesis of TiO₂NPs, and the produced NPs have no toxic effect against HepG₂ cells compared with CHTiO₂NPs. The maternal and fetal bodyweights were greatly reduced among the chemically TiO₂NPs induced animals. The mean serum level of AST and ALT activities and the total protein level significantly increased when TiO₂NPs were administered at high doses. Histologically, the CHTiO₂NPs-treated groups revealed vacuolated and necrotized hepatocytes with congested and dilated blood vessels in the fetal and maternal livers. The immunohistochemistry revealed distinct positive staining of Bax expressed in the hepatocytes. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of TiO₂NPs using garlic extract had a minimal effect on the normal architecture of the liver. It could be concluded that the bioactivity of TiO₂NPs can be modified by green synthesis using garlic extract. Compared to the CHTiO₂NPs, the exposure to GTiO₂NPs showed reduced liver damage in maternal and embryo-fetal rats.

The effects of carvacrol on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver function indicators in a systemic inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats

The effect of carvacrol (CAR) on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was explored. The rats (n=40) were daily injected (2 weeks) by saline as control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg CAR (i.p.) before LPS. LPS increased aspartate transaminase (AST: 162±13 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 74.6±2.15 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P: 811±51 U/L), interlukine-1β (IL-1β: 1254±51 pg/g tissue), malondialdehyde (MDA: 32±1.09 nM/g tissue), and nitric oxide (NO: 224±13.5 nM/g tissue) (P<0.01-P<0.001) while, decreased total protein(4.08±0.38 g/dl), albumin(2.79±0.16 g/dl), thiol (5.16±0.19 μM/g tissue), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 10.57±0.13 U/g tissue), and catalase (CAT: 0.78±0.02 U/g tissue) compared to control (P<0.001). CAR reversed the effects of LPS (P<0.05-P<0.001). In the rats treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, the indicators were as follows: AST: 118±10.1 U/L, ALT: 42.5±4.13 U/L, ALK-P: 597±39.91 U/L, IL-1β: 494±15 pg/g tissue, and NO: 141±5.35 nM/g tissue. Both 50 and 100 mg/kg CAR corrected oxidative stress indicators and in the group treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, they were: MDA: 23.4±0.91 nM/g tissue, thiol: 7.98±0.18 μM/g tissue, SOD: 21±0.8 U/g tissue, and CAT: 1.12±0.02 U/g tissue(P<0.05-P<0.001). In conclusion, CAR improved liver function, accompanied with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects.

Hepatoprotective effect of a novel lactic acid-fermented garlic extract functional food product against acute liver injury

Lactic acid-fermented garlic extract (LAFGE) has been shown to have hepatoprotective role in liver diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a new LAFGE-based hepatoprotective functional food product (named D-18-007) formulated with other additive components, including l-arginine, l-ornithine, and the leaf extract of licorice and artichoke. In a rat model of d-galactosamine(GalN)/LPS-induced liver injury, the survival was significantly higher in animals treated with D-18-007 than in animals treated with LAFGE. The hepatic injury was alleviated by either LAFGE or D-18-007, but the overall effect was more significant in D-18-007, as shown by the necrosis, histology, and serum analyses. Also, the decrease in GalN/LPS-induced lipid peroxidation in the liver tissue was more significant in D-18-007 than LAFGE. The decrease in IL-6 protein in the liver was similar between LAFGE and D-18-007. Moreover, we compared the amount of the bile in normal animals and found that D-18-007 has better choleretic activity than LAFGE. Using this acute liver injury model, our results suggest that D-18-007 has an enhanced hepatoprotective effect in acute liver injury compared with LAFGE alone.

Hepatoprotective effect of ultrasonicated ginseng berry extract on a rat mild bile duct ligation model

Background

The Panax ginseng berry extract (GBE) is well known to have an antidiabetic effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate and investigate the protective effect of ultrasonication-processed P. ginseng berry extract (UGBE) compared with GBE on liver fibrosis induced by mild bile duct ligation (MBDL) model in rats. After ultrasonication process, the composition ratio of ginsenoside in GBE was changed. The component ratio of ginsenosides Rh1, Rh4, Rg2, Rg3, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in the extract was elevated.

Methods

In this study, the protective effect of the newly developed UGBE was evaluated on hepatotoxicity and neuronal damage in MBDL model. Silymarin (150 mg/kg) was used for positive control. UGBE (100 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg), GBE (250 mg/kg), and silymarin (150 mg/kg) were orally administered for 6 weeks after MBDL surgery.

Results

The MBDL surgery induced severe hepatotoxicity that leads to liver inflammation in rats. Also, the serum ammonia level was increased by MBDL surgery. However, the liver dysfunction of MBDL surgery–operated rats was attenuated by UGBE treatment via myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathways.

Conclusion

UGBE has a protective effect on liver fibrosis induced by MBDL in rats through inhibition of the TLR4 signaling pathway in liver.

Protective effect of ultrasonication-processed ginseng berry extract on the D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury model in rats

Background

Acute hepatic failure is a life-threatening critical condition associated with rapid deterioration of liver function and liver transplantation. Several studies have shown that Panax ginseng Mayer has antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. However, the hepatoprotective effect of ginseng berry is still unveiled. In this study, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of ultrasonication-processed ginseng berry extract (UGBE) on acute hepatic failure model in rats.

Methods

Ginseng berry extract (GBE) was ultrasonically processed. The GBE, silymarin, and UGBE were orally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 wk. Twenty-four h after the last administration, rats were challenged with D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Results

After ultrasonication, the component ratio of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh4, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in GBE had been elevated. Administration of UGBE significantly increased the survival rate of D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats. Pretreatment with UGBE significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of enzymatic markers for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione) were increased by UGBE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Tumor necrosis factor alphalevel, inducible nitric oxide synthase activities, and nitric oxide productions were reduced by UGBE treatment. In addition, hemeoxygenase-1 levels in liver were also significantly increased in the UGBE-treated group. The protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 was decreased by UGBE administration. Hematoxylin and eosin staining results also supported the results of this study showing normal appearance of liver histopathology in the UGBE-treated group.

Conclusion

UGBE showed a great hepatoprotective effect on D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats via the toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway.

The protective effect of aged garlic extract on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastric inflammations in male albino rats

Natural products have long gained wide acceptance among the public and scientific community in the gastrointestinal ulcerative field. The present study explore the potential effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on indomethacin-(IN-) induced gastric inflammation in male rats. Animals were divided into six groups (n = 8) control group, IN-induced gastric inflammation group via oral single dose (30 mg/kg to fasted rats) two AGE orally administered groups (100 and 200 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days) two AGE orally administered groups to rats pretreated with IN at the same aforementioned doses. The results declared the more potent effect of the higher AGE dose (200 mg/kg) as compared to that of the 100 mg/kg dose in the gastroprotective effects reflected by significant gastric mucosal healing of damage and reduction in the total microbial induced due to indomethacin administration. In addition to the significant effect to normalize the significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) values, and the significant decrease in the total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) values induced by indomethacin. The results support AGE antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potency reflected by the healing of the gastric tissue damage induced by indomethacin.

Protective effects of ulinastatin on acute liver failure induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine

BACKGROUND

Although treatment of acute liver failure has been improved significantly recently, the survival rate of acute liver failure is only 5-20%. Therefore, prevention and treatment of acute liver failure are still urgent issues in the field of liver disease.

AIMS

It has been demonstrated that ulinastatin could attenuate acute injury of internal organs from endotoxin. This study evaluates whether ulinastatin can prevent and/or attenuate acute liver failure induced by the combination of lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine (LPS/D-gal).

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were employed to induce acute liver failure by injection of LPS/D-gal. The liver function, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress index, and hepatic histopathological alteration were examined in the rats with and without ulinastatin treatment.

RESULTS

In rats treated with LPS/D-gal, there were increases in the levels of ALT and AST in the serum and levels of malondialdehyde and inducible nitric oxide synthase in liver tissues. Moreover, the levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were reduced in the liver. Furthermore, inflammatory factors (TNF-alpha and IL-6) and apoptotic enzyme (caspase-3) were increased in the respective serum and liver of rats treated with LPS/D-gal. However, pre-treatment of ulinastatin significantly reversed all of these parameters in the rats that received LPS/D: -gal alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding in this study suggests that ulinastatin could be a potential agent for prevention and treatment of acute liver injury induced by LPS/D-gal.

Effects of globin digest and its active ingredient Trp-Thr-Gln-Arg on galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in ICR mice

AIMS

We investigated the effects of globin digest (GD) and its active ingredient Trp-Thr-Gln-Arg (WTQR) on galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS)-induced liver injury in imprinting control region (ICR) mice.

MAIN METHODS

The effects of WTQR and GD on the liver injury were examined by measuring the survival rate, serum aminotransferase activities, hepatic components, antioxidant enzyme activities, histopathological analysis, serum levels and hepatic gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and nitric oxide (NO) or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 content in GalN/LPS-treated ICR mice. RAW264 mouse macrophages were used to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of WTQR and GD on the macrophages.

KEY FINDINGS

WTQR and GD increased the survival rate, suppressed the serum aminotransferase activities, serum levels and hepatic gene expression of TNF-α, MIP-2, and NO or iNOS, and nuclear NF-κB p65 content in GalN/LPS-treated mice; decreased the oxidized glutathione content, increased the superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased the histopathological grade values of the hepatocyte necrosis and lobular inflammation in GalN/LPS-injured liver; and suppressed the release levels and gene expression of TNF-α, MIP-2, and NO or iNOS, and nuclear NF-κB p65 content in LPS-stimulated RAW264 macrophages. WTQR and GD may improve the antioxidant defense system and inflammatory status in GalN/LPS-injured liver.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings indicate that WTQR and GD have hepatoprotective effects on GalN/LPS-induced liver injury in ICR mice.

Evaluation of sub-chronic oral toxicity of Joloo: a traditional medicinal decoction

CONTEXT

Joloo is a Nigerian herbal decoction used for managing breast tumor, ulcer, pain, fever and general malaise in southwestern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

The evaluation of the sub-chronic toxicity of Joloo, a Nigerian herbal decoction, is done by investigating its effects on biochemical, antioxidant, histopathologic and hematologic indices in normal albino rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Albino rats of either sex weighing between 128 and 160 g were divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each. Three test groups were orally administered 400, 800 and 1600 mg kg(-1) body weight (b. wt.) doses of Joloo while control animals received distilled water over 28 days. Animal were weighed weekly and sacrificed after day 28. Organs were harvested, weighed and subjected to histopathologic assessment. Liver and blood samples were used for biochemical, antioxidant and hematological studies.

RESULTS

Mortality and signs of toxicity were absent in animals treated with 400 and 800 mg kg(-1) doses of Joloo. At 1600 mg kg(-1) dose, 20% mortality occurred. Decreased body weight and red blood cells (P < 0.05) observed at 1600 mg kg(-1) differed significantly from control animals. No significant changes in body and organ weights presented. Significant increases in biochemical analytes and histopathologic parameters were unobserved. Rather, Joloo increased leukopoiesis and exhibited antioxidant activities at all doses.

DISCUSSION

Joloo proved safe at lower doses. The mortality at 1600 mg kg(-1) could be due to disturbances in the physiology of the animals. The significant reduction in erythropoiesis could indicate early signs of toxicity. However, the unremarkable increases in hepatic and antioxidant enzymes may suggest that Joloo modulated oxidative status in the animals.

CONCLUSION

Joloo seems safe at lower doses, but caution is advised at higher doses.

Effects of ozone oxidative preconditioning on different hepatic biomarkers of oxidative stress in endotoxic shock in mice

In endotoxic shock, variations are known to occur in different biochemical parameters of oxidative stress. Ozone oxidative preconditioning (OOP) is a good candidate to restore the redox balance on different tissue. This investigation examined the effect of OOP on different biomarkers of oxidative stress in hepatic tissue of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS doses of 30 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) and pretreatment with ozone/oxygen mixture (OOM) was applied i.p. at 0.2, 0.4, and 1.2 mg/kg once daily during 5 days before LPS injection. The mice were euthanized under ether atmosphere at different times, 1 and 24 h after LPS injection. Hepatic tissue from all animals was taken for biochemical determinations of oxidative stress parameters such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The results demonstrated that OOP reduces levels of TBARS content and increases the activity of GPx in hepatic tissue. In conclusion, OOP was able to recover the redox balance and in this way to protect the animals against the oxidative damage induced by endotoxemia.

Ajoene, a stable garlic by-product, inhibits high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative injury through LKB1-dependent AMPK activation

Hepatic steatosis, a hepatic component of metabolic syndrome, is common and may progress to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. The liver X receptor-α (LXRα)-sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) pathway plays a key role in hepatic steatosis. This study investigated the potential of ajoene, a stable garlic by-product, to inhibit high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and the underlying mechanism. Ajoene treatment attenuated fat accumulation and induction of lipogenic genes in the liver of HFD-fed mice. Blood biochemical analyses and histopathologic examinations showed that ajoene prevented liver injury with the inhibition of oxidative stress, as evidenced by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation and nitrotyrosinylation. Moreover, ajoene treatment inhibited LXRα agonist (T0901317)-mediated SREBP-1c activation, and transactivation of the lipogenic target genes in hepatocytes. Ajoene was found to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) via LKB1, responsible for the inhibition of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase-1 (S6K1). The ability of ajoene to repress T0901317-induced SREBP-1c expression was antagonized by inhibition of AMPK or activation of S6K1, supporting the role of these kinases in the antisteatotic effect. Our results demonstrate that ajoene has an effect of activating AMPK through LKB1 and inhibit S6K1 activity, contributing to the prevention of SREBP-1c-mediated hepatic lipogenesis via the inhibition of LXRα activity.

Prevention of selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Wistar albino rats by aqueous extract of garlic

PURPOSE

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory impacts of the aqueous extract of garlic (Ga) on the formation of cataract induced by sodium selenite (Se).

METHODS

Thirty-two Wistar albino rat pups (4 equal groups: G1, G2, G3, and G4) were treated as follows: G1, subcutaneous (s.c.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of normal saline (0.3 mL) on postpartum (day 10); G2, i.p. injection of aqueous extract of garlic (1 mL/kg body weight) and s.c. injection of normal saline (0.3 mL) on postpartum (day 10); G3, s.c. injection of sodium selenite (20 nmol/g body weight) and i.p. injection of normal saline (0.3 mL) on postpartum (day 10); and G4, s.c. injection of sodium selenite (20 nmol/g body weight) and i.p. injection of aqueous extract of garlic (1 mL/kg body weight) on postpartum (day 10). Daily i.p. injections of aqueous extract of garlic (in G2 and G4) and normal saline (in G1 and G3) were continued for 14 days. The development of cataract was assessed over a period of 2 weeks after injection of sodium selenite. For further examination, the rats' lenses were removed and analyzed for glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities.

RESULTS

In G3 (Se-treated group), all rats developed grade 3 cataract in both eyes. However, in G1 (untreated control group), G2 (Ga-treated group), and G4 (Ga-Se-treated group), the lenses in both eyes of all rats remained clear (P < 0.0001). This clinical finding was associated with higher GSH level and GPX, SOD activities and lower level of MDA in the Se- and Ga-treated group (G4) compared with SS-treated group (G3) rat lenses (P < 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraperitoneal injection of the Ga in rat model appeared to effectively prevent Se-induced cataract, thus such herbal remedy may be considered for treatment of cataract.