Background: Natural products from plants have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties,
including antioxidants and hepatoprotective activities. The protective effects of aqueous extract of
Persea americana
(AEPA) against carbon
tetrachloride (CCl
4)-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats was investigated.
Materials and Methods: Liver damage was induced in rats by administering a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl
4 and olive oil [3 ml/kg, subcutaneously (sc)]
after pre-treatment for 7 days with AEPA. Hepatoprotective effects of AEPA was evaluated by estimating the activities of alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of total bilirubin (TBL). The effects of AEPA on biomarkers of
oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant enzymes namely, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in liver post mitochondrial fraction.
Results: AEPA and Reducdyn® showed significant (p<0.05) hepatoprotective activity by decreasing the activities of ALT, AST, ALP and reducing
the levels of TBL. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls were also decreased dose-dependently in
the AEPA-treated rats. Pre-treatment with AEPA also decreased the serum levels of glutathione significantly.
Conclusion: These data revealed that AEPA possesses significant hepatoprotective effects against CCl
4-induced toxicity attributable to its constituent
phytochemicals. The mechanism of hepatoprotection seems to be through modulation of antioxidant enzyme system.
