Levisticum officinale extract protects against CCl ₄-induced hepatotoxicity through anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant properties in rats

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Levisticum officinale extract on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Different doses of Levisticum officinale extract were given orally to rats for 10 days, then rats received a single dose of CCl₄ (2.5 mL/kg, 50% v/v in liquid paraffin). Biochemical and histopathological assays were performed to assess the effects of the extract on liver function and architecture. Moreover, antioxidant and oxidative markers as well as inflammatory and fibrotic indicators were measured. Results: Pretreatment with Levisticum officinale extract significantly mitigated CCl₄-induced damage to liver structure, improved serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, total bilirubin, and total protein, enhanced glutathione content and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the liver, as well as decreased plasma and hepatic malondialdehyde levels. Immunohistochemical results demonstrated that the extract reduced Ki-67 and α-SMA expression and Masson’s trichrome staining revealed decreased liver collagen in rats treated with Levisticum officinale extract. Moreover, Levisticum officinale extract markedly decreased the gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, MCP-1, and COX-2. Conclusions: Levisticum officinale extract exerts hepatoprotective effects on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic activities.

Keywords

Levisticum officinale / CCl ₄ / Inflammation / Liver toxicity / Antioxidant

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Dabiri, Dr. Askari, and Dr. Soltaninezhad for their valuable technical supports.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

The study received no extramural funding.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Authors’ contributions

IP conceptualized the study and performed data analysis and interpretation. NG, MM and MMM collected the data and drafted the article. All the authors critically revised the article, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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