Golden berry juice attenuates the severity of hepatorenal injury

J Diet Suppl. 2013 Dec;10(4):357-69. doi: 10.3109/19390211.2013.830675. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to investigate the potential of Physalis peruviana fruits as a hepatorenal protective agent against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic and renal fibrosis. The phytochemical screening test revealed the presence of alkaloids, free withanolides, glycowithanolides, and flavonoids. Acute toxicity study (500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg body weight) revealed extract safety. The biological evaluation was conducted on different animal groups: control, control treated with fruit, CCl4 group, CCl4 treated with fruit, and CCl4 treated with silymarin drug. The evaluation was done through measuring oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO). Liver function indices such as aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST & ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirubin, and total protein were estimated. Kidney disorder biomarkers such as creatinine, urea, and serum protein were also evaluated. Treatment improved all the investigated parameters, and the histopathological analysis confirmed our results. In conclusion, Physalis peruviana fruit succeeded to protect liver and kidney against fibrosis. Further studies are needed to identify the molecules responsible for its pharmacological application.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / analysis
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Alkaloids / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Beverages
  • Bilirubin
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / drug therapy*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Fibrosis / drug therapy
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Diseases / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Physalis / chemistry*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Withanolides / analysis
  • Withanolides / pharmacology
  • Withanolides / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Preparations
  • Withanolides
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Bilirubin