Protective effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves extract against carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals

Túlio P Rezende; José Otávio do A Corrêa; Beatriz J V Aarestrup; Fernando M Aarestrup; Orlando V de Sousa; Ademar A da Silva Filho

doi:10.3390/molecules19079257

Protective effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves extract against carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals

Molecules. 2014 Jul 2;19(7):9257-72. doi: 10.3390/molecules19079257.

Authors

Túlio P Rezende¹, José Otávio do A Corrêa², Beatriz J V Aarestrup³, Fernando M Aarestrup³, Orlando V de Sousa⁴, Ademar A da Silva Filho⁵

Affiliations

¹ Identificação e Pesquisa em Princípios Ativos Naturais - NIPPAN, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, CEP36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
² Laboratório de Bioatividade Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, CEP36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
³ Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, CEP36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratório de Farmacologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, CEP36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
⁵ Identificação e Pesquisa em Princípios Ativos Naturais - NIPPAN, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, CEP36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. ademar.alves@ufjf.edu.br.

Abstract

In this work we investigated the in vivo protective effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves extract (BdE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- and acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant DPPH radical scavenging activity, and HPLC analysis were performed. Our results showed that pretreatment with BdE significantly reduced the damage caused by CCl4 and APAP on the serum markers of hepatic injury, AST, ALT, and ALP. Results were confirmed by histopathological analysis. Phytochemical analysis, performed by HPLC, showed that BdE was rich in p-coumaric acid derivatives, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. BdE also showed DPPH antioxidant activity (EC50 of 15.75±0.43 μg/mL), and high total phenolic (142.90±0.77 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (51.47±0.60 mg RE/g) contents. This study indicated that B. dracunculifolia leaves extract has relevant in vivo hepatoprotective properties.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acetaminophen / toxicity*
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / toxicity*
Animals
Baccharis / chemistry*
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / drug therapy*
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry
Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification
Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
Liver / drug effects
Liver / pathology
Male
Mice
Plant Extracts / chemistry
Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
Plant Leaves / chemistry
Rats, Wistar

Substances

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Free Radical Scavengers
Plant Extracts
Acetaminophen
Carbon Tetrachloride