On a deterministic mathematical model which efficiently predicts the protective effect of a plant extract mixture in cirrhotic rats

Math Biosci Eng. 2024 Jan;21(1):237-252. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2024011. Epub 2022 Dec 12.

Abstract

In this work, we propose a mathematical model that describes liver evolution and concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in a group of rats damaged with carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride was employed to induce cirrhosis. A second groups damaged with carbon tetrachloride was exposed simultaneously a plant extract as hepatoprotective agent. The model reproduces the data obtained in the experiment reported in [Rev. Cub. Plant. Med. 22(1), 2017], and predicts that using the plants extract helps to get a better natural recovery after the treatment. Computer simulations show that the extract reduces the damage velocity but does not avoid it entirely. The present paper is the first report in the literature in which a mathematical model reliably predicts the protective effect of a plant extract mixture in rats with cirrhosis disease. The results reported in this manuscript could be used in the future to help in fighting cirrhotic conditions in humans, though more experimental and mathematical work is required in that case.

Keywords: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level; damage and treatment modeling; hepatoprotective effect; induced cirrhosis; system of ordinary differential equations system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Tetrachloride / toxicity
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / drug therapy
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / pathology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts* / therapeutic use
  • Rats

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Carbon Tetrachloride