Antioxidative and chemopreventive effects of Nephrolepis biserrata against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatic dysfunction in rats.

BACKGROUND

Nephrolepis biserrata L. (Nephrolepidaceae) has been used in folk medicine for protection against different diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The current research investigated the protective effect of the methanol extract of N. biserrata leaves against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in rats.

METHODS

Total phenolic content and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were estimated. In addition, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, CCl4 (1.0 mg/kg b wt), N. biserrata extract (at doses of 125, 250, and 375 mg/kg b wt) with CCl4 and N. biserrata extract (at dose of 375 mg/kg b wt) alone. After 2 weeks all rats were sacrificed and hepatoprotective effect of N. biserrata was evaluated.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that the high total phenolic content (127.28 ± 1.57 mg GAE/g) of N. biserrata may be the major contributor to strong antioxidant activities. Moreover, N. biserrata significantly depleted the elevation of enzymatic levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (20-93% recovery), reduced the extent of malondialdehyde (47-90% recovery), increased the level of reduced glutathione (25-39% recovery), and elevated the activities of catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase, and quinone reductase (5-34% recovery). Histopathological observations also revealed that N. biserrata decreased fatty degeneration and necrosis in CCl4 administered rats.

CONCLUSIONS

N. biserrata has strong antioxidant activities and significant protective effects against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats.