Hepatoprotective effects of dual-coated and uncoated mixture of probiotics in rats

Hepatoprotective effects of natural drugs: Current trends, scope, relevance and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

The liver is a well-known player in the metabolism and removal of drugs. Drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver detoxify drugs and xenobiotics, ultimately leading to the acquisition of homeostasis. However, liver toxicity and cell damage are not only related to the nature and dosage of a particular drug but are also influenced by other factors such as aging, immune status, environmental contaminants, microbial metabolites, gender, obesity, and expression of individual genes Furthermore, factors such as drugs, alcohol, and environmental contaminants could induce oxidative stress, thereby impairing the regenerative potential of the liver and causing several diseases. Persons suffering from other ailments and those with comorbidities are found to be more prone to drug-induced toxicities. Moreover, drug composition and drug-drug interactions could further aggravate the risk of drug-induced hepatotoxicity. A plethora of mechanisms are responsible for initiating liver cell damage and further aggravating liver cell injury, followed by impairment of homeostasis, ultimately leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species, immune-suppression, and oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the potential of phytochemicals and natural bioactive compounds to treat hepatotoxicity and other liver diseases.

STUDY DESIGN

A deductive qualitative content analysis approach was employed to assess the overall outcomes of the research and review articles pertaining to hepatoprotection induced by natural drugs, along with analysis of the interventions.

METHODS

An extensive literature search of bibliographic databases, including Web of Science, PUBMED, SCOPUS, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, etc., was carried out to understand the role of hepatoprotective effects of natural drugs.

RESULTS

Bioactive natural products, including curcumin, resveratrol, etc., have been seen as neutralizing agents against the side effects induced by the drugs. Moreover, these natural products are dietary and are readily available; thus, could be supplemented along with drugs to reduce toxicity to cells. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have shown promise of improving overall liver functioning, and these should be evaluated more extensively for their hepatoprotective potential. Therefore, selecting an appropriate natural product or a bioactive compound that is free of toxicity and offers a reliable solution for drug-induced liver toxicity is quintessential.

CONCLUSIONS

The current review highlights the role of natural bioactive products in neutralizing drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Efforts have been made to delineate the possible underlying mechanism associated with the neutralization process.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria on Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats

Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible wound-healing response characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix. Probiotics have been used to prevent and treat various disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (mixture of Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, and Weissella confusa) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control, (2) TAA, (3) TAA+probiotics, (4) TAA+silymarin, and (5) probiotics. Group 1 rats received a standard diet. In groups 2-4, fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg BW) 3 times weekly for 8 consecutive weeks. Group 4 received TAA plus 100 mg/kg BW of silymarin 2 times weekly. Groups 3 and 5 were fed 10⁹ CFU/mL viable microbial cells daily by gavage. The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks of treatment. Liver tissues were collected immediately and processed for histopathological, lipid peroxidation, and Western blot analyses of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and α-SMA. Blood serum was collected to measure liver enzymes. Rats in the TAA groups suffered from hepatic injury (increased serum enzyme levels, liver inflammation, and increased concentration of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and α-SMA proteins) and extensive liver fibrosis. In contrast, TAA-treated rats receiving probiotics or silymarin had significantly lower serum enzyme levels, less inflammation, and less fibrosis. Liver damage was lower in the TAA+probiotics-treated group. Consumption of a mixture of probiotic lactic acid bacteria attenuates the development of liver fibrosis.

A new trend in the medication of hepatocyte cytoxicity in mice: protective role of probiotic bacteria

Liver toxicity is affected by several factors, including certain medications, fumes emission from factories, materials used in industries, and exposure to chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Some preselected probiotic bacteria strains have been widely employed in different medical researches due to their antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory characters, and hepatoprotective factor. The present study was aimed to evaluate the protective role of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum DSMZ 20174) and their ameliorative effects against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The cell cycle of hepatocytes and the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were assessed by flow cytometry as indicators for apoptosis. The antioxidant activity of probiotic bacteria was estimated by measuring lipid peroxidation (LPO) and scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). The results showed that the treatment of CCl₄-administered mice by supernatant from Lactobacillus plantarum DSMZ 20174 induced an amelioration in CCl₄-induced increases in serum activity of the liver enzymes and decreases in LPO and DPPH. After treatment with probiotics, the liver histopathological studies showed abundant infiltration and accumulation of mononuclear cells and fibroblast, indicating a positive effect ameliorating the damage previously induced by CCl₄. In sum, the results of the present work indicate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum against hepatotoxicity through antioxidant effects.