Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of Agave americana leaves on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats

BACKGROUND

Ethiopians locally treat liver illnesses with A. Americana. Available literature demonstrates this. However, there are few in-vivo investigations that provide supporting data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract of Agave americana leaves on rat liver damage caused by paracetamol.

METHODS

The acute oral toxicity test was conducted in accordance with OECD-425 recommendations. The approach outlined by Eesha et al. (Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 4:466-469,  2011) was used to test the hepatoprotective activity. Wistar male rats weighing between 180 and 200 g were used, and six groups with seven animals each were formed. Group I received treatment with gum acacia (2%) at a dose of 2 ml/kg p.o. daily for 7 days. Rats in group II were treated with 2% gum acacia orally daily for seven days along with a single dose of paracetamol (2 mg/kg) p.o. on 7^th day. Silymarin (50 mg/kg) was given orally to Group III for 7 days. Plant extract doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg were administered orally to Groups IV -VI for seven days, respectively. All rats in groups III-VI were treated with paracetamol (2 mg/kg) 30 min following extract administration. Blood samples were obtained from the cardiac puncture after paracetamol had been used for 24 h to induce toxicity. Serum biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin) were estimated. A histopathological investigation was also done.

RESULTS

No toxicity symptoms or animal fatalities were recorded during the acute toxicity study. The values of AST, ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin were all substantially raised by paracetamol. Significant hepatoprotective effects were obtained by pretreatment with A. americana extract. Histopathological examination of the liver tissues of paracetamol control group represented the presence of marked foci of mononuclear infiltration in the hepatic parenchyma tissue, sinusoid, and around central vein, as well as disorganization of hepatic plates, necrosis, and fatty changes of hepatocytes. Pretreatment with A. americana extract reversed these alterations. Results of the methanolic extract of A. americana were comparable to Silymarin.

CONCLUSION

The current investigation supports the hepatoprotective properties of Agave americana methanolic extract.

In vitro Evaluation of the Potent Antileishmanial Activity of Ferula tabasensis Alone or in Combination with Shark Cartilage Extract Against the Standard Iranian Strain of Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER)

Background

The available drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis are highly toxic and extremely expensive, with low efficiency; therefore, the development of effective therapeutic compounds is essential.

Objectives

The present study aimed to explore the antileishmanial effects of ethyl acetate extract, methanol extract, and fractions 1-4 (F1-F4) of Ferula tabasensis, alone or in combination with shark cartilage extract (ShCE), on L. major in vitro.

Methods

In this study, ethyl acetate, methanol, and n-hexane extracts were extracted from the aerial roots of F. tabasensis by the maceration method. The silica gel column chromatography was used to separate n-hexane extracts at varying polarities (F1-F4 fractions). Subsequently, the effects of extracts and fractions against promastigotes were assessed by the parasite counting method microscopic inhibition test and MTT assay. Besides, their effects on the infected macrophage cells and the number of amastigotes were investigated. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in non-infected J774A.1 macrophage cells. Finally, apoptosis induction of promastigotes, including infected and non-infected macrophages, was evaluated.

Results

The results indicated the highly potent activity of F. tabasensis extracts and F1-F4 fractions, alone or in combination with ShCE, against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The F1 fraction and methanol extract showed markedly higher toxicity compared to the other extracts and fractions, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50/72h) of 2.4 ± 0.29 and 2.9 ± 0.55 µg/mL against promastigotes and 1.79 ± 0.27 µg/mL and 1.39 ± 0.27 µg/mL against amastigotes (P < 0.001). Moreover, they had a high selectivity index (SI) due to the low toxicity of macrophages (P < 0.0001). The results of flow cytometry indicated that the percentages of apoptotic promastigote cells in contact with IC50 concentrations of F1 and methanol extract alone after 72 h were 43.83 and 43.93%, as well as 78.4%, and 65.45% for their combination with ShCE, respectively.Also, apoptosis of infected macrophages induced by F1 and methanol extracts was estimated at 68.5% and 83.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

In this study, the F1 fraction and methanol extract of F. tabasensis showed potent efficacy against L. major, associated with low toxicity and apoptosis induction. Therefore, they can be promising therapeutic candidates in future animal and even human studies.