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Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Thunbergia laurifolia on alcohol-induced liver injury in rats


Sarawoot Palipoch
Phanit Koomhin
Chuchard Punsawad
Prasit Suwannalert

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous leaf extract of T. laurifolia against alcoholic liver injury in rats.


Methods: Male Wistar rats were administered either normal saline, ethanol (EtOH), normal saline with low or high dose T. laurifolia leaf extract (TL-LD or TL-HD), EtOH with TL-LD or EtOH with TL-HD. Blood biochemical indices: hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, liver histopathology, hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA expressions, were determined using standard methods.


Results: The leaf extract of T. Laurifolia decreased hepatic MDA levels, improved liver pathology and down-regulated mRNA expressions of CYP2E1, NADPH oxidase and pro-inflammatory cytokinesin ethanol-treated rats.


Conclusion: These results demonstrate that aqueous extract of T. Laurifolia exerts hepatoprotective effect against alcoholic liver injury through a mechanism involving inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation.


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996