Hepatoprotective activity of Chhit-Chan-Than extract powder against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Yi-Chun Lin a,1, Kuei-Mei Cheng b,1, Hsin-Yu Huang c,d, Pei-Yu Chao e,f,
Jin-Ming Hwang g, Hsueh-Hui Lee h,i, Cheng-You Lu j, Yung-Wei Chiu a,j,*,
Jer-Yuh Liu k,l,**
a Emergency Department, Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
b Department of Sports Management, National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport, Taichung,
Taiwan, ROC
c Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
d Department of Hospitality Management, Wu Feng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC
e Department of Leisure Industry Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
f Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
g School of Applied Chemistry, Health Care and Management College, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung,
Taiwan, ROC
h Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
i Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
j Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
k Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
l Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

The capability of Chhit-Chan-Than extract powder (CCTEP, 10% aqueous Ocimum gratissimum L. extract) to protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in vivo was investigated. Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group A was a normal control group given only vehicle; Group B, the hepatotoxic group, was injected intraperitoneally twice a week with repeated 8% CCl4/olive oil (0.1 mL/100 g of body weight); Groups CeE, extract-treated groups received CCl4 and different doses of CCTEP (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg of body weight) daily by gavage for 8 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the CCl4-induced histopathogical changes may be prevented by CCTEP through reducing the intercellular collogen stack, dropping blood serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and restoring the catalase activity and glutathione content. The hepatoprotective properties were further confirmed by the marked improvement in histopathological examination and by quantitative steatosis-fibrosis scoring. The above results suggest that CCTEP is able to prevent the liver inflammation and fibrosis induced by repeated CCl4 administration, and the hepatoprotective effects might be correlated partly with its antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Carbon tetrachloride, Hepatoprotection