Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effect of Oriental Hackberry (Celtis Tournefortii L.) Against Cci4 Injury in Rat Liver

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Celtis tournefortii leaf extract (Ct) against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. A total of 32 Wistar albino rats were divided into four equal groups (n = 8): control, CCl4 group, CCl4 + Celtis group (CCl4 + Ct), and Celtis group (Ct). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities, glutathione (GSH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were analyzed in the liver tissues. Liver enzymes were assayed in the serum. The liver histopathology was also evaluated. The levels of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase significantly decreased in the CCl4 + Ct group in comparison with those in the CCl4 group. SOD and GPx activities and TAS increased significantly with CCl4 + Ct administration when compared with the administration of CCl4 alone. The oxidative stress parameters, such as MDA and TOS, showed a reduction when Ct treatment was applied to the CCl4-induced group. The results revealed that Celtis remarkably attenuated the degenerative and necrotic changes caused by CCl4 in the liver tissues. Consequently, the Ct may augment the antioxidant status and moderated the severity of CCl4-induced liver damage. The therapeutic use of Celtis tournefortii might be effective in the treatment of liver injuries.