Hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract of Vitis thunbergii on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats through anti-oxidative activities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana are traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, fracture and injury, jaundice, and hepatitis in Taiwan.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The hepatoprotective activity of its plant extracts seems to be been associated with its antioxidant activity. This paper aims to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects of the ethanol extract of Vitis thunbergii (EVT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In HPLC analysis, the fingerprint chromatogram of EVT was established. Antioxidant ability of EVT was investigated by employing several established in vitro methods. In vivo antioxidant activity was tested against CCl(4)-induced toxicity in mice. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected in the blood to indicate hepatic injury. Product of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were evaluated for oxidative stress in hepatic injury. Moreover, histopathological observation was assayed for the degree of hepatic injury.

RESULTS: EVT exhibited strong antioxidant ability in vitro. After oral administration of EVT significantly decreased ALT and AST, and ameliorated the oxidative stress in hepatic tissue and increased the activity of CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and nitric oxide (NO) were decreased in the group treated with CCl(4) plus EVT. Western blotting revealed that EVT blocked protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in CCl(4)-treated rats, significantly. Histopathological examination of livers showed that EVT reduced fatty degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolization and necrosis in CCl(4)-treated rats.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that EVT possesses antioxidant effects in vitro and hepatoprotective effect on acute liver injuries induced by CCl(4)in vivo, and the results suggested that the effect of EVT against CCl(4)-induced liver damage is related to its antioxidant properties.