Downregulation of fibrosis and inflammatory signalling pathways in rats liver via Pulicaria crispa aerial parts ethanol extract

CONTEXT

Liver is a vital organ for the detoxification of toxic substances in the body, where fibrosis is the major cause of liver damage. Pulicaria crispa processes many therapeutic applications such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-ulcerative agent.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to modulate the fibrosis and inflammatory signalling pathways in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver damage in rats via treatment with Pulicaria crispa aerial parts ethanol extract (PCEE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CCl₄ was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg b.wt./twice a week/six consecutive weeks, PCEE was orally allocated at a dose of 250 mg/kg b.wt./day/six weeks and silymarin was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg, b.wt/day/six weeks. The plant extract evaluation was done through measuring aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST& ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total lipids (TP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low level glycoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The liver architectures were also estimated.

RESULT

The phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of sterols and/or triterpenoids. Treatments with plant extract suppressed significantly (p < 0.0001) the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TP, TG, TC, LDH-C, MDA, NO, AFP, TNF-α and IL-6, while increased (p < 0.0001) the levels of HDL-C, GSH and SOD. The histopathological features confirmed the therapeutic role of the plant extract.

CONCLUSION

PCEE succeeded to exert anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory and anti- oxidants effects in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis.

Coenzyme Q10 attenuates rat hepatocarcinogenesis via the reduction of CD59 expression and phospholipase D activity

The current study aimed to test the profile of serum lipids, phospholipase D (PLD) activity, and CD59 expression pattern in rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after therapeutic treatment with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Three rat groups were allocated as normal control, untreated HCC, and treated HCC (HCC + CoQ10). The levels of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Serum lipids, classical (CH50), and alternative (APH50) pathways of complement activation, the liver cell HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), and PLD activities were assayed colorimetrically. The protein expression of CD59, scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SRB1), B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), and cleaved Caspase-3 (Casp-3) were detected using western blotting, while the level of serum CD59 (sCD59) was assessed using dot-blot. CoQ10 reduced the cell proliferation, histological alterations, and the levels of AFP and TNF-α but increased lipids, CH50, and sCD59 in serum. In the liver cell, CoQ10 decreased and increased PLD and HMGCR enzyme activities, respectively. In addition, reduction of liver CD59, Bcl2, and SRB1 vs increased cleaved Casp-3 expressions was observed. Statistical correlation indicated an inverse relationship between CH50 and each of CD59 expression and PLD activity after treatment with CoQ10. In conclusion, CoQ10 could protect against rat HCC through increased lipids and the reduction of CD59 expression and PLD activity. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the attenuating effect of antitumour natural product like Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) via the reduction of CD59 expression and phospholipase D (PLD) activity. This illustrates the important role of CD59 and PLD in relation to lipids in cancer prevention.

Beneficial therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale in HCV patients in Egypt

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden and Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. The current study was designed to evaluate the beneficial therapeutic effects of ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa, Zingiber officinale and their mixture in Egyptian HCV patients. Sixty volunteer patients with proven HCV and fifteen age matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Exclusion criteria included patients on interferon alpha (IFN-α) therapy, infection with hepatitis B virus, drug-induced liver diseases, advanced cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or other malignancies, blood picture abnormalities and major severe illness. Liver function enzymes, albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and concentration, international normalized ratio, alpha fetoprotein and viral load were all assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa and Zingiber officinale were prepared and formulated into gelatinous capsules, each containing 500 mg of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale. Clinical response and incidence of adverse drug reactions were assessed initially, periodically, and at the end of the study. Both extracts as well as their mixture significantly ameliorated the altered viral load, alpha fetoprotein, liver function parameters; with more potent effect for the combined therapy. In conclusion, administration of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale ethanolic extracts to HCV patients exhibited potential therapeutic benefits via decreasing viral load and alleviating the altered liver function, with more potent effect offered by the mixture.