Ethyl acetate fraction of Pteris vittata L. alleviates 2-acetylaminofluorene induced hepatic alterations in male Wistar rats.

Pteris vittata L. commonly called 'Brake Fern' possesses some interesting medicinal properties but its chemopreventive potential largely remains unexplored. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the chemopreventive efficacy of P. vittata L. ethyl acetate fraction (PVEA) against 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats. Antioxidant activity of PVEA was evaluated using various in vitro antioxidant assays. The protective effects of PVEA were evaluated against 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats. p53 expression in liver tissue was checked using immunohistochemical staining. Phytochemical composition of PVEA was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PVEA showed promising radical scavenging activity with an EC50 (concentration of a drug that gives half-maximal response) of 41.18μg/ml in DPPH assay, 26.99μg/ml in site specific deoxyribose degradation assay, 13.43μg/ml in non site specific deoxyribose degradation assay and 21.88μg/ml in superoxide anion scavenging assay. Three different doses of PVEA 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight (b.w.) followed by administration of 2-AAF (50mg/kg b.w. i.p.) for five consecutive days induced significant changes in activity of liver marker enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, reduced glutathione content and phase I and II enzymes. Activity of hepatic enzymes and normal hepatic architecture was restored following PVEA treatment. PVEA modulated the expression of p53 in liver tissue as compared to 2-AAF treated group. HPLC analysis of the fraction revealed the abundance of epicatechin (20.809ppm) and umbelliferone (22.308ppm) as major polyphenols. The present study highlights the potentiality of P. vittata in cancer chemoprevention which warrants further investigations.