Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITIES OF BLEPHARIS LINARIIFOLIA PERS AND GUIERA SENEGALENSIS J. F. GMEL. AGAINST CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

Nasereldeen Mohammed Imam, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab*, Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha, Syam Mohan, Hassan Ahmed Alhazmi, Reem Hassan Ahmed*

Abstract

Herbal medicines from folk practice have proven to be safe and have ability in alleviating the toxicity induced by xenobiotics. Blepharis linariifolia Pers (Acanthaceae) and Guiera senegalensis J. F. Gmel. (Combretaceae) are two widely used medicinal plants in Sudan. Forty two Wister Albino rats (85-140 g) were used to evaluate the protection of B. Linariifolia and G. Senegalensis extracts from hepatic injury. Rats in Group 1 were used as negative control. Acute liver injury (Group 2) was induced using subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Group 4 and 5 received B. Linariifolia extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Group 6 and 7 received G. senegalensis extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Silymarin was used as a positive control (Group 3). Phytochemical and antioxidant properties were conducted using DPPH assay and pharmacognosic standard methods, respectively. Administration of CCl4 induced distinctive histological changes such mononuclear cell infiltration, vacuolar and hepatocellular degeneration and bile duct proliferation. Elevation in hepatic enzymes, urea and total protein was evident in Group 2. Dose dependent protective effects against these pathological lesions and indicators were observed on the groups received plants extracts and Silymarin. B. Linariifolia and G. senegalensis and propyl gallate have demonstrated bleaching effect of 78±0.01%, 92±0.02% and 89±0.01%, respectively, on DPPH assay. Various phytochemicals have been detected in both in both extracts. The hepatoprotection of B. Linariifolia and G. Senegalensis could be attributed to their antioxidant effects.

Keywords: Hepatoprotection, Blepharis Linariifolia, Guiera Senegalensis, pesticides, Environmental hazards, Medicinal plants.