Environmental Science and Pollution Research
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06231-6
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Hepatoprotective effects of the n-butanol extract from Perralderia
coronopifolia Coss. against PCP-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats
Khadidja Bekhouche 1 & Tevfik Ozen 2 & Sara Boussaha 3 & Ibrahim Demirtas 4 & Mounir Kout 5 & Kemal Yildirim 2 &
Djamila Zama 1,3 & Fadila Benayache 3 & Samir Benayache 3
Received: 11 November 2018 / Accepted: 16 August 2019
# Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract
In the present study, in vivo antioxidant properties of the n-butanol extract obtained from aerial parts of Perralderia coronopifolia
were investigated in term of its hepatoprotective effect of female Wistar albino rats (n, 36; average age, 48 ± 5 days; weighing 150
± 18 g) against PCP (pentachlorphenol)-induced toxicity. PCP (20 mg/kg b.w.) and plant extract (50 mg/kg b.w.) were administered daily by gavages for 2 weeks. Vitamin E (100 mg/kg b.w.) was given intraperitoneally as a positive control. Lipid
peroxidation (LPO) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were evaluated in
liver homogenates. While, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, and triglyceride
parameters were analyzed in serums. The liver fragments were observed using light microscopy. Experimental results exhibited
that PCP-treated group has a significant increase in the liver lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of animals while decreased in plant
extract-treated group. In addition, PCP caused significant decreases in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and reduced
glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, PCP induced hepatotoxicity by increasing serum transaminase enzymes, cholesterol, and
triglyceride levels. While, these levels were restored to control value in animals treated with plant extract. The regularized levels
of LPO, GSH, cholesterol, triglyceride, transaminase enzymes, and GPx activities revealed the antioxidant properties of the
extract plant as well as of the vitamin E. The histological study showed the hepatoprotective effect of our extracts against PCPinduced acute intoxication, protecting the hepatic architecture and decreasing the functional and structural alterations of the liver.
The plant extract had high antioxidant potential and completely prevented the toxic effect of PCP on the above of liver and serum
parameters.
Keywords Perralderia coronopifolia . Pentachlorphenol . Antioxidant enzymes . Lipid peroxidation level . Glutathione .
Hepatotoxicity
Introduction
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
* Tevfik Ozen
tevfikoz@omu.edu.tr
1
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences,
University Frères Mentouri 1, Constantine, Algeria
2
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Letters, Ondokuz
Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
3
Research Unit: Valuation of Natural Resources, Bioactive Molecules,
Physicochemical and Biological Analyzes (VARENBIOMOL),
University Frères Mentouri 1, Constantine, Algeria
4
Plant Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of
Cankiri, Karatekin, Turkey
5
Anatomic and Pathologic Cytology Laboratory, University Hospital
Center, Constantine, Algeria
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an artificial organochlorine substance, prepared from different chemical components. PCP is
used for the formation of fungicidal, insecticidal, and pesticide
produces productions. It is also used as a wood-preserving
agent at various wood treating situations (Dong et al. 2009).
The oral, inhalation, and dermal interaction through a short or
a long time of PCP-contact in humans and investigational
animals made known distinct health effects. PCP could exert
its troublemaking on respiratory, hepatic, renal, reproductive,
central nervous system, endocrine functions (Wen et al. 2019;
Peng et al. 2017), immune system, and thyroid homeostasis
(Yu et al. 2014). Xenobiotics like pesticide have been able to
yield reactive species (ROS), which in occasion cause oxidative stress in diverse tissues (Mehta et al. 2009).
Environ Sci Pollut Res
However, medicinal plants have potential antioxidant
properties that can help prevent the formation of free
radicals and various pathologies. Phenolic and polyphenolic compounds as well as flavonoids are the most important active compounds with these properties (Sedighi
et al. 2017).
Several studies have analyzed the protective effect of
different medicinal plants on pesticide-induced toxicity.
In this context, many medicinal plants have been tested
as antioxidants in order to control the potential harmful
effect of free radicals and to reduce the damage caused
by pesticides. By way of example, the protective effect
of the n-butanol extract of the Paronychia argentea plant
(Zama et al. 2007), the methanolic extract of the Punica
granatum plant (Agha et al. 2013), and the ethanolic
extract of Meconopsis integrifolia (Zhou et al. 2013).
Therefore, there is a growing interest in the use of natural antioxidants as a protective strategy against the liver, cardiovascular, renal, and other problems. Animal experiments have suggested the antioxidant and protective
effect of some plant extracts in PCP-induced toxicity
attributed to the huge amount of polyphenols. The effects of plant extracts come from their composition in
bioactive molecules such as polyphenols and flavonoids
(Agha et al. 2013).
Algeria contains up to 3000 species and 1000
genderswith a significant diversity of flora (Bouabdelli
et al. 2012). Among them, we investigated one endemic
plant; it is Perralderia coronopifolia Coss. from
Asteraceae family. It is considered as a traditional therapeutic remedy, grows in the north-western of Africa
(Boussaha et al. 2015). In vitro investigations documented
that the aerial parts of this plant have a high antioxidant
and anticancer ability against some cancer cell lines
(Boussaha et al. 2015), as mentioned its capacity to protect DNA-damage against UV-photolysis of H 2O 2 –induced oxidative damage (Bekhouche et al. 2018).
The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the capacity of n-butanol extract obtained from P. coronopifolia
and vitamin E to modulate PCP-induced liver toxicity and
oxidative impairment in female rats, and whether this capacity is arising from its antioxidant activity. Therefore, we
studied in vivo the antioxidant capacity of this extract via
modern pharmacology testing practices. Hepatic damage
was appraised by determining of serum parameters of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), cholesterol, and triglycerides. While the oxidative
damage was estimated by measurement of malondialdehyde
(MDA as oxidant agent) for lipid peroxidation (LPO) level
and reduced glutathione (antioxidant agent) levels as well
as glutathione peroxidation (GPx) activity. In addition, we
observed the PCP-effect on the hepatic architecture using
light microscopy for histological studies.
Material and methods
Chemicals
The chemicals which were used for the assays were in methodical grade and obtained from Sigma–Aldrich and Roche.
Plant material
The plant material was collected in 2011 from Taghit, Algeria. It
was validated by M Mohamed Benabdelhakem, director of the
nature preservation agency of Bechar. A voucher sample
(PCA0511-TAG-ALG-52) has been placed at the herbarium of
VARENBIOMOL Research Unit, University Frères Mentouri
(Constantine 1, Algeria).
Extraction
The air-dried and ground into a coarse powder aerial parts
(leaves and flowers 1400 g) of the plant were macerated for
48 h at room temperature with EtOH-H2O (80:20, v/v), three
times. After filtration, the filtrates were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure (up to 35 °C). The remaining
solution (500 mL) was dissolved in H2O (650 mL) under
magnetic stirring and maintained at 4 °C for one night to
precipitate a maximum of chlorophylls. The resulting solution
was successively extracted with CHCl3, EtOAc, and n-butanol, respectively. The organic phases were dried with anhydrous Na2SO4 and filtered by common filter paper and concentrated in vacuum up to 35 °C to obtain the following extracts: CHCl3 (2 g), EtOAc (7 g), and n-butanol (40 g). All the
extracts were kept in the freezer until they were used.
Animals and treatments
Young adult female Wistar albino rats (n, 36; average age, 48
± 5 days) weighing 150 ± 18 g were used in this study. They
were obtained from the Laboratory Animal Research Unit of
OMUDEHAM (Animal Ethics Committee, Ondokuz Mayis
University, Samsun, Turkey). Ondokuz Mayis University was
given ethical approval (OMUHAYDEK: B-30-2-ODM-0-2009-00-050-04-32, 2015, 18th of April 2015). Animals were
housed in cages, minted in an air-conditioned room at 22 to 26
°C with 12-h light and dark cycle and fed on standard rat
pellets with free access to food and water ad libitum. Rats
were acclimatized to the laboratory environment for 2 weeks,
prior to the commencement of the study. The European
Community Directive (86/609/EEC) and National Rules on
animal care have been followed.
PCP (20 mg/kg body weight) and/or plant extract (50
mg/kg b.w.) were administered daily by gavages for 2 weeks.
The vehicle used in the administration of the compounds is the
distilled water (d.w) which given as 20 mg extract/0.5 mL
Environ Sci Pollut Res
d.w/200 g b.w and 0.8 mg PCP/0.5 mL d.w/200 g b.w.
Vitamin E was given intraperitoneally as a positive control
at the dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. The doses used of extract and
vitamin E were selected according to in vivo experiments, and
studies carried out in our laboratory on the activity of different
plant extracts on xenobiotic-induced toxicity in the liver
(Amrani et al. 2017; Djebbari et al. 2017; Zama et al. 2007).
Poison dose was selected based on acute PCP toxicity studies
in wild animals and rats (Agha et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2001;
Sai-kato et al. 1995; Villena et al. 1992). The LD50 (mg/kg)
ranged from 80 to 120 in adult rats (St. Omer and Gadusek,
1987). The LD50 (mg/kg) ranged from 80 to 120 in adult rats
(St. Omer and Gadusek 1987). Rats were divided at random
into six groups:
&
&
&
&
&
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Group I (n = 6) was served as a control
Group II (n = 6) was orally administered PCP 20 mg/kg
b.w for 2 weeks (p.o.).
Group III (n = 6) was orally administered plant extract 50
mg/kg b.w. (EXT50) for 2 weeks (p.o.)
Group IV (n = 6) was orally treated by plant extract and
PCP (EXT50 + PCP) for 2 weeks (p.o.)
Group V (n = 6) administered daily by Vitamin E (VITE)
100 mg/kg b.w. by intraperitoneal injection for 2 weeks
Group VI (n = 6) treated by Vitamin E 100 mg/kg b.w. and
PCP 20 mg/kg b.w. (VITE + PCP) for 2 weeks
Preparation of homogenate tissue:
Animals were not fed overnight at the end of 2 weeks and
were immediately perfused with 0.9% NaCl (+4 °C) to immediately remove blood due to the diurnal variation. Blood collection is performed from the portal vein into heparin tubes.
The rats are anesthetized with an injection of ketamine hydrochloride (1 mL/100 mg) and xylazine (1 mL/23.32 mg). The
rat’s livers were removed and then homogenized in cold KCl
1, 15% to make a 20% homogenate. Centrifugation at
3000 rpm for 15 min at + 4 °C is important to separate the
supernatant. These supernatants were used for analyses of all
antioxidant enzymes and kept in a refrigerator at − 80 °C for
further analysis. The protein content in the supernatant was
determined calorimetrically as described in by Lowry et al.
1951 and measured at 660 nm. Bovine serum albumin
(BSA) was used as a standard.
the colorimetric method of Uchiyama and Mihara (1978). In
this experiment, 3 mL of 1% phosphoric acid and 1 mL of
0.67 % thiobarbituric acid (TBA). The aqueous solution was
added to 0.5 mL of homogenate (20%) and moved in the
centrifuge tube. The mixture was left in a boiling water bath
for 45 min, and then it was cooled to room temperature. Four
milliliters of n-butanol was added to the mixture and mixed
forcefully. Absorbance was read at 532 nm after separation of
the n-butanol phase by centrifugation. MDA was employed
singly as standard. The TBARs content in liver homogenate
was given nmol MDA/mg protein.
Glutathione content measurement:
Reduced glutathione (GSH) content in each liver homogenate
was tested chemically via Ellman’s reagent as reported by
Ellman 1959. The basis of this analysis is the reactive cleavage of (DTNB) 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) by sulfhydryl group and resulting in yellow color with great absorbance
at 412 nm against reagent blank with not any homogenate.
The GSH content in each liver homogenate was given nmol
GSH/mg protein.
Evaluation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity:
The determination of GPx activity in rat’s liver homogenate
was performed as designated by Flohé and Günzler 1984. In
the existence of GSH, GPx causes the hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2) reduction in the medium. Briefly, 0.2 mL of supernatant disjointed from liver homogenate was added to 0.4 mL
GSH (0.1 mM) and 0.2 mL of Tris-buffered saline (TBS)
solution (Tris 50 mM, containing NaCl 150 mM, pH 7.4),
and then the tubes were mixed and incubated 5 min at 25
°C. 0.2 mL of H2O2 (1.3 mM) was added to the mixture.
After 10 min, 1 mL trichloroacetic acid (1% TCA) was added
in order to end the reaction. Then, the tubes were kept at 0–5
°C in an ice bath for 30 min. After centrifugation for 10 min at
3000 rpm, 0.48 mL of supernatant was taken and added to
each tube. 2.2 mL TBS solution and 0.32 mL of Ellman’s
Reagent, 5,5′-Dithiobis-(2-Nitrobenzoic Acid) (DTNB) (1
mM) were added 5 min before the measurement of the optical
density at 412 nm. The activity was given nmol GSH/mg
protein.
Dosage of biochemical parameters
In vivo assays
Lipid peroxidation assay (MDA measurement):
Lipid peroxidation progression is resolute in the supernatant
of all homogenates. It was evaluated by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) via
The clear serum supernatant was used for the analysis of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), cholesterol, and triglyceride parameters analyzed with
Audit Diagnostics Instrument, Ireland. The assays were conducted using the kits obtained from the Faculty of Veterinary,
Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey.
Environ Sci Pollut Res
Histological studies
Effects on GPx activity
Directly, after the sacrifice of rats’ liver-samples were excised,
rinsed with normal saline, and processed distinctly for histological interpretations. The material was preserved in the fixative (10% formalin) for 48 h, dried by serial ethanol cycles
(70% to absolute), and placed in paraffin. The fragments were
cut in 5 μm in thinness which colored with Harris hematoxylin
and eosin, and then observed using light microscopy (Leica
DM 1000, Germany) at the laboratory of anatomical and pathological cytology, University Hospital Center, Constantine,
Algeria.
Oxidative worry encouraged by PCP initiated a significant (p
< 0.001) alteration in liver antioxidant resistance system as
GPx level, compared to the control group. The glutathione
peroxidase activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in
the liver of the PCP group. Co-treatment with plant extract and
vitamin E led to an acceleration in the activity of the enzyme.
After consumption of PCP with extract and vitamin E, the
GPx activity was nearer to results for these factors in the
control group (Fig. 2).
Effects on glutathione
Statistical analysis
A significant (p < 0.001) change in the GSH content was
caused by the PCP treatment compared to the control. In the
co-treatment with plant extract and vitamin E, the concentration of reduced glutathione was considerably augmented in
the liver compared to the control (Fig. 3).
All investigates were achieved in every test in triplicate. Data
are obtainable as mean ± standard deviation of the mean.
Analyses were executed by the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS) Software V.25 using Anova twoway analysis and assessed by Tukey test. The difference p <
0.01 is considered as significant variation while p < 0.001
mentioned the highly significant variation. The averages
followed by different letters are significantly different according to the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).
Effects on biochemical parameters
A significant augmentation (p < 0.01) in the serum AST and
ALT activities was detected in the PCP group; when compared
to the control group. Pre-administration of plant extract or
vitamin E lowered the AST and ALT activities significantly
(p < 0.01) compared to the PCP group alone. A maintaining of
normal levels of serum transaminases was shown in the plant
extract and vitamin E groups (Fig. 4).
A significant increase (p < 0.01) in the serum of cholesterol
and triglyceride levels was showed in the PCP group compared to the control group. While in the co-treatment with
plant extract or vitamin E, the cholesterol and triglyceride
levels were significantly decreased in serum (Fig. 5).
Results
Effects on MDA level
A significant (p < 0.01) variation was detected in MDA level
in rats treated with PCP plus plant extract (50 mg/kg). Extract
administration normalized the value of MDA level compared
to PCP group. Vitamin E provided a significant protection
against PCP-induced lipid peroxidation (Fig. 1).
c, ***
0.2
Lipid peroxidation
(n mol MDA / mg protein)
Fig. 1 Effect of PCP, n-butanol
extract of P. coronopifolia, and
vitamin E on lipid peroxidation
(TBARs content) in liver
homogenate. The averages
followed by different letters (a–c)
are significantly different
according to the Tukey test (p ≤
0.05). *Compared to PCP group;
**
p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001,
compared to control group.
CONT, control group; EXT 50,
plant extract at 50 mg/kg dose;
VIT, vitamin E
0.16
0.12
b *,**
b
b *,**
0.08
a
a
0.04
0
CONT
PCP
EXT 50
EXT50+PCP
VIT
VIT+PCP
Environ Sci Pollut Res
0.1
a
GSH content
(n mol GSH/mg protein)
Fig 2 Effect of PCP, n-buthanol
extract of P. coronopifolia, and
vitamin E on GSH levels in liver
homogenate. The averages
followed by different letters (a–c)
are significantly different
according to the Tukey test (p ≤
0.05). *Compared to PCP group;
***
p < 0.001, compared to control
group. CONT, control group;
EXT 50, plant extract at 50 mg/kg
dose; VIT, vitamin E
0.08
b
b *,**
b
b *,**
0.06
0.04
c, ***
0.02
0
CONT
Histological findings and results
Figure 6 a–d exhibit histological photomicrographs of liversections from control and treated groups. Histological photomicrographs of liver-sections from control exhibited a normal
architecture with the central vein, polygonal hepatocytes with
rounded nuclei (Fig. 6a). Histology of the liver treated with
PCP illustrates a dilation and congestion of the centrilobular
vein and sinusoids, pyknotic liver cells, binucleation, and ballooning of hepatocytes and necrosis (Fig. 6b). While the histology of the liver treated with plant extract or vitamin E
before administration of PCP shows just edema of the
centrilobular vein and less of dilation of sinusoids (Fig. 6c, d).
Discussion
Several in vivo methods complimenting antioxidant potency
have been performed in this study. These methods have done
to evaluate the protective effect of the n-butanol extract of
P. coronopifolia on the maintenance of the antioxidant system
against xenobiotics. This effect has been demonstrated via
EXT 50
EXT50+PCP
VIT
VIT+PCP
animal experimentation by inducing acute intoxication in
adult rats by PCP.
Whereas, the ingesting of PCP for 2 weeks with a dose of
20 mg/kg in rats has caused damage to the electrical system in
the hepatocyte membranes and a significant functional alteration in the livers. This hepatic dysfunction is demonstrated
by the significant increase in MDA, one of the main products
resulting from lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress in the liver
has been exacerbated by PCP since a significant decrease in
GSH levels and an inhibition of GPx action compared to the
control group. As well as, the examination of biochemical
parameters in the serum of these rats recorded an increase in
AST and ALT transaminases indicating lipid peroxidation at
hepatocyte membranes. These changes in lipid profile have
similarly proved by the increase of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in comparison with the control group. On the
other hand, pretreatment of rats with the n-butanol extract of
P. coronopifolia has shown that it is able to normalize the
MDA level, to reduce the glutathione level and the GPx activity in liver homogenates. This extract is also able to decrease the AST and ALT transaminases activities and capable
to decrease the cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in
the serum of rats poisoned by PCP.
0.5
b, c
GPx activity
(nmol GSH / mg protein)
Fig 3 Effect of PCP, n-butanol
extract of P. coronopifolia, and
vitamin E on the antioxidant
enzyme (GPx) in liver homogenate. The averages followed by
different letters (a–c) are significantly different according to the
Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). *Compared
to PCP group; ***p < 0.001,
compared to control group.
CONT, control group; EXT 50,
plant extract at 50 mg/kg dose;
VIT vitamin E
PCP
0.4
b, c
c*
b
b*
0.3
0.2
a,***
0.1
0.0
CONT
PCP
EXT 50
EXT50+PCP
VIT
VIT+PCP
Environ Sci Pollut Res
b,***
100
AST(U/L)
ALT(U/L)
80
Activity, U/L
Fig 4 Effect of PCP, n-butanol
extract of P. coronopifolia, and
vitamin E in serum AST and ALT
activities. The averages followed
by different letters (a, b) are significantly different according to
the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).
*
Compared to PCP group; **p <
0.01 and ***p < 0.001, compared
to control group. CONT, control
group; EXT 50, plant extract at 50
mg/kg dose; VIT, vitamin E
60
a
a*
a
a*
a
b,**
a
40
a
a*
a
a*
20
0
CONT
Hepatic damage using pesticides persuaded lipid peroxidation commonly well-known and has been extra-evaluated in
investigational assays to comprehend the cellular mechanisms
overdue oxidative injury and estimate the beneficial potential
of remedies and dietetic antioxidants (Basu 2003; Zama et al.
2007; Zhou et al. 2013). The obtainable human and animal
findings specify that the metabolism of PCP does happen in
the liver, via two ways: the conjugation to produce the glucuronide and the oxidative de-chlorinating to create
tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) (Wang et al. 2001).
Previously researches recently reported that the metabolism of oral-PCP administration is able to progress over the
quinols TCHQ and Cl4CAT by microsomal cytochrome P450
enzymes (Fang et al. 2015). These TCHQ able to be oxidized
through semiquinone intermediates (tetrachloro-1,2semiquinone [Cl4-1,2-SQ] and tetrachloro-1, 4-semiquinone
[Cl4-1,4-SQ]) into the correspondent quinones (tetrachloro1,2-benzoquinone [Cl4-1,2-BQ] and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone [Cl4-1,4-BQ]) (Carstens et al. 1990). Quinones and
semiquinones are electrophilic and are able to be fixed with
macromolecules in cells (Zhu and Shan 2009). The beginning
of toxic properties was associated with the injury of the electrical system in membranes and a significant quantity of PCP
EXT 50
EXT50+PCP
VIT
VIT+PCP
binding to the membrane. That leads to the production of both
superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide at the very high rate
which increases oxidative damage (Kan et al. 2015). This
might well induce changes in enzymes involved in oxidative
phosphorylation (Zhou et al. 2013).
In these experiments, the administration of 20 mg/kg of
PCP for 15 days induced an increase of ROS as a result of
stress disorder in the rats. Severe acute liver dysfunction and
reflected modifications in the basic status of these organ revealed by an important escalation in the MDA levels as indicated in Fig. 1. It was caused by the interaction of oxygen
radicals with polyunsaturated fatty acids. In accordance with
our study, previous studies registered that pesticides (Umosen
et al. 2012) and especially PCP increased MDA levels in various rat tissues compared to healthy models (Agha et al. 2013;
Han et al. 2009). However, pretreatment with n-butanol extract of P. coronopifolia and vitamin E indicated its antilipoperoxidative effect owing to their antioxidant potent and
free radical scavenging capacity over the bio-membrane restoration of liver parenchyma cells.
Furthermore, oxidative stress in the liver was aggravated
by PCP since the increase in GSH levels, as shown in Fig. 2.
This factor is considered as very important to make known
b,**
150
Cholesterol
a
Concentration, mg/dL
Fig 5 Effect of PCP, n-butanol
extract of P. coronopifolia, and
vitamin E in serum cholesterol
and triglyceride levels. The
averages followed by different
letters (a, b) are significantly
different according to the Tukey
test (p ≤ 0.05). *Compared to PCP
group; **p < 0.01, compared to
control group. CONT, control
group; EXT 50, plant extract at 50
mg/kg dose; VIT, vitamin E
PCP
a
a*
a
Triglycerid
a*
120
90
b,**
60
a
a
a*
a
a*
30
0
CONT
PCP
EXT 50
EXT50+PCP
VIT
VIT+PCP
Environ Sci Pollut Res
Fig 6 a Histology of normal
control rat liver. (1) Normal
architecture with central vein. (2)
Polygonal hepatocytes. (3) A
rounded nuclei. (4) Blood
sinusoids (× 400). b Histology of
liver treated with PCP. (1)
Dilation and congestion of the
centrilobular vein. (2) Dilation of
sinusoids. (3) Pyknotic liver cells.
(4) Binucleation of hepatocytes.
(5) Hepatocellular necrosis. (6)
Ballooning of hepatocytes (×
400). c Histology of liver treated
with plant extract and PCP. (1)
Dilation and edema of the
centrilobular vein. (2) Dilation of
sinusoids. (3) Binucleation of
hepatocytes (× 400). d Histology
of the liver treated with vitamin E
and PCP. (1) Dilation of the
centrilobular vein. (2) Dilation of
sinusoids. (3) Ballooning and
clarification of hepatocytes (×
400)
1: Normal architecture with central vein, 2: Polygonal hepatocytes, 3: A rounded nuclei, 4:
Blood sinusoids. (X400).
1: Dilation and congestion of the centrilobular vein, 2: Dilation of sinusoids, 3: Pyknotic liver
cells, 4: Binucleation of Hepatocytes, 5: Hepatocellular necrosis, 6: Ballooning of
hepatocytes. (X400).
1: Dilation and edema of the centrilobular vein, 2: Dilation of sinusoids, 3: Binucleation of
Hepatocytes. (X400).
1: Dilation of the centrilobular vein, 2: Dilation of sinusoids, 3: Ballooning and clarification of
hepatocytes. (X400).
Environ Sci Pollut Res
oxidative damage in the liver because the depleted GSH, in
addition with GPx and GST (glutathione S-transferase), is
responsible for the GSH redox cycles which keep the redox
status of tissues against oxidative destruction persuaded by
ROS and also guard their structural and regulatory proteins.
The inhibition of GPx activity shown in Fig. 3 is related with
the reduction of GSH, since the GSH substrate is used in the
decomposition of H2O2 to water (Tiana et al. 1998) and the
reduction of soluble hydrogen peroxide and alkyl peroxides
by GPx (Bebe and Panemangalore 2003). In consequence, the
reduction of GSH encouraged the formation of ROS and oxidative stress with a cascade of changes in the structural and
possibly functional status of hepatic cells and organelle membranes. However, the pretreatment with plant extract or vitamin E qualified their biological importance in excluding ROS,
which might disturb the typical role of cells.
Increased ALT enzymes shown in Fig. 4 were owed to the
destruction of the hepatic structure. As soon as this enzyme is
contained in the cytoplasm, it will be moved to the blood
circulation after cellular change causing its augmented concentration. While, the increase of AST enzymes is being indicated that giving PCP to rats causes damage in both plasma
and organelle membranes, which is supplemented by structural and functional adjustment of mitochondria. This result was
agreed by other findings (Villena et al. 1992).
The n-butanol extract of P. coronopifolia regularized the
ALT and AST activities. Normalization of ALT and AST
levels suggests stabilization of the endoplasmic reticulum by
pretreatment with this extract, leading to protein synthesis in
the liver. Stimulation of protein synthesis has been advanced
as a protective mechanism contributing to accelerate cell regeneration. This finding also suggests the hepatoprotective
effect of the extract against the acute toxicity of PCP.
In addition, the present study mentions a significant increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the
PCP group compared to the control group as shown in Fig.
5. This finding also confirms that the administration of PCP
caused changes in the lipid profile which lead to ballooning of
hepatic cells. The progress of fatty liver is doing trough important mechanism which augmented substrate source for the
esterification of fatty acids directly, motivated the esterification way, and also diminished the hepatic-triglyceride transfer
like the very low-density lipoproteins. While, the precedents
levels were decreased in serum by the pretreatment with plant
extract or vitamin E due to their dominant inhibition of lipid
peroxidation.
In the histopathological observations, histological sections
of untreated rat’s liver presented in Fig. 6a indicated a typical
liver lobular architecture and cell arrangement. Although, Fig.
6b revealed entire liver structure damage of PCP-treated group
with extreme dilation and congestion of the centrilobular vein,
hepatocellular necrosis, dilation of sinusoids, pyknotic liver
cells, bi-nucleation, and ballooning of hepatocytes. This
finding concords with the results of Agha et al. (2013).
Other studies confirmed that rats given oral dosages of 7–48
mg/kg/day of PCP presented hepatocellular necrosis,
periportal fibrosis, and liver cells degenerating (Bernard
et al. 2002).
Necrosis represents the dominant PCP-induced death pattern in different systems (Abhay and Sunanda 2015; Agha
et al. 2013; Fernández et al. 2005; Chen et al. 2004; Wang
et al. 2000; Villena et al. 1992). High-intensity oxidative stress
can overwhelm the antioxidant potential and induce the opening of the transition port and mitochondrial permeability. Nonselective permeability of the inner membrane can lead to necrotic and apoptotic cell death (Lushchak 2011).
In the case of rats pretreated with plant extract and vitamin
E, Fig. 6 c and d clearly confirm their protective effect. These
findings concord with the results of Agha et al. (2013). The
extract has shown a protective effect against lipid, electrical,
and oxidative imbalance, as well as a hepatoprotective effect
against acute toxicity induced by PCP in Wistar albino rats.
This ability to protect and preserve tissue may be provided
by the large composition of polyphenolic content and
flavonoids. The in vitro findings of Bekhouche et al. (2018)
underlined the important composition of this extract of polyphenols which equal to 424.67 ± 4.03 μg gallic acid equivalent/
mg of extract and also of flavonoids which equal to 347.67 ±
2.25 μg equivalents of quercetin/mg of extract. Many studies
suggest that polyphenols have the capacity to regulate a variety
of cellular and molecular processes by interaction with protein
targets as enzymatic proteins, intracellular signaling proteins,
nuclear receptors, etc (Amiot et al. 2009).
Polyphenols include phenolic acids and are rich in phenolic
hydroxyl groups assigns antioxidant effects involving three
processes: trapping the free radicals, inhibiting the generation
of free radicals and anti-lipid peroxidation (Kolac et al. 2017).
Phenolic acids are potential anti-liver damage compounds by
protecting liver cells and preserving the integrity of the lysosomal membrane. This protection of the liver can be obtained
by the following mechanisms: elimination of free radicals,
inhibition of lipid peroxidation, inhibition of the expression
of inflammatory cytokines, and improvement of the expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)
which has significantly reduced by H2O2 attack (Wang et al.
2019; Yuan et al. 2015).
The study of Boussaha et al. (2015) has suggested that the
antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts of P. coronopifolia is
associated with the existence of flavonoid compounds such as
taxifolin, rhamnazine, and the derivatives of the coffeeoylquinic
acid determined in the ethyl acetate extract. Another recent
study has suggested that the very potent anti-radical activity
of this plant is due to the large amounts of certain major components such as γ-eudesmol, αeudesmol, and cis-nerolidol
identified in essential oils of aerial parts of this plant
(Hamdouch et al. 2017).
Environ Sci Pollut Res
Moreover, our data assured that vitamin E has a considerable role in the evolution of acute hepatic toxicity and oxidative damage induced by PCP in the rat model as reported by
Timbrell et al. (1995). Vitamin E has the capacity to inhibit
lipid peroxidation, hepatocellular degeneration, necrosis,
DNA injury, and lesions made in the extracellular matrix
(Zhou et al. 1996). The n-butanol extract of P. coronopifolia
can act as the vitamin E, as well as a radical chain terminator
which converts reactive free radicals into stable, non-reactive
products, and also as chemo-protectants against the oxidative
damage induced in hepatocytes after ingesting PCP.
This in vivo study reconfirmed the in vitro findings of
Bekhouche et al. (2018) which underlined that this plant extract has an important antioxidant potential compared to antioxidant standards and a high capacity of ROS scavenging,
reducing power, metal chelation, DNA-damage protection,
and anticancer activity against HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) cells at high concentration. These capacities were suggested to be offered by the high conception of polyphenols.
Further studies are needed to better understand the possible
mechanisms of action of this plant extract against PCPinduced toxicity in the liver.
Conclusion
This study can be shown as scientific support suggesting the
hepatoprotective effect of the n-butanol extract of
P. coronopifolia against PCP intoxication, which has been
further confirmed by significant antioxidant activities and histopathological studies. The overdoses of PCP cause structural
and functional alterations in the liver.
On the basis of the results obtained from this work,
P. coronopifolia plant extract can be a prospective foundation
of ordinary antioxidants and may provide a positive level of
healthiness safety against oxidative damage induced by PCP.
Funding information This work was supported by the grants from
Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK,
114Z683), Ondokuz Mayis University (BAP: PYO.FEN.1904.11.016,
Turkey), Cankiri Karatekin University (BAP: FF080515B30, Turkey),
and Algerian Ministry of Higher Education.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of
interest.
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