Protective effect of tamarix amplexicaulis seeds against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol, or d-galactosamine

Abstract EN

This study aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Tamarix amplexicaulis seeds against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), paracetamol, or D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats.

Silymarin was used as a reference hepatoprotective standard.

Hepatotoxicity induced 24 hours after administration of each of the foregoing hepatotoxins, was manifested biochemically by significant elevation in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC : 2.6.1.2) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST, EC : 2.6.1.1).

The toxicity was furthermore evidenced by a significant decrease of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content, and a significant increase of lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue homogenate.

Treatment of rats with i.p.

injection of silymarin or Tamarix extract at different concentrations one hour prior to administration of the hepatotoxins, reduced significantly (p < 0.0001) the elevations in the levels of serum ALT and AST activity induced by i.p injection of carbon tetrachloride or oral administration of paracetamol.

However, both silymarin and Tamarix extract failed to reduce significantly the increase of serum AST activity induced by i.p.

injection of D-galactosamine.

In addition, pretreatment with silymarin and Tamarix extract, significantly (p< 0.001) modulated the hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion induced by carbon tetrachloride administration, and significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the production of malondialdehyde (MDA).

In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of Tamarix amplexicaulis seeds has shown a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effects against carbon tetrachloride or paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity verified by amelioration of serum ALT activity and hepatic GSH, and reduction of serum AST activity and liver lipid peroxidation, which resulted in the detoxification of xenobiotics as underlying hepatoprotective mechanisms.