Protective effects of Geloina eros extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

We investigated the effect of Geloina eros extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Our results showed that treatment with Geloina eros extract for 8 weeks significantly reduced the impact of CCl4 toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) Antioxidant system was significantly enhanced in the plasma, and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were lowered while the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) protein level and non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and GSH) were elevated. The results indicated that Geloina eros extract has a protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by the administration of CCl4 and was found to be comparable to that of silymarin and have been supported by the evaluation of the liver histopathology in rats. The hepatoprotective effects of Geloina eros extract may be due to both the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the increase of antioxidant activity. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.