Antioxidant Properties ofTaraxacum officinaleLeaf Extract Are Involved in the Protective Effect Against Hepatoxicity Induced by Acetaminophen in Mice

Abstract

Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity has been related to several cases of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatic transplant. As APAP hepatotoxicity is related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and excessive oxidative stress, natural antioxidant compounds have been tested as an alternative therapy to diminish the hepatic dysfunction induced by APAP. Taraxacum officinale Weber (Family Asteraceae), commonly known as dandelion, is used for medicinal purposes because of its choleretic, diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of T. officinale leaf extract against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. T. officinale was able to decrease thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels induced by 200 mg/kg APAP (p.o.), as well as prevent the decrease in sulfhydryl levels caused by APAP treatment. Furthermore, histopathological alterations, as well as the increased levels of serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases caused by APAP, were prevented by T. officinale (0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL). In addition, T. officinale extract also demonstrated antioxidant activity in vitro, as well as scavenger activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and nitric oxide radicals. Our results clearly demonstrate the hepatoprotective effect of T. officinale against the toxicity induced by APAP. The possible mechanisms involved include its scavenger activities against ROS and reactive nitrogen species, which are attributed to the content of phenolic compounds in the extract.

Guanosine prevents nitroxidative stress and recovers mitochondrial membrane potential disruption in hippocampal slices subjected to oxygen/glucose deprivation

“…DPPH solution (500 μM) was added to a medium containing different concentrations of the GUO (10, 100, 500, or 1000 μM) and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. The decrease in the absorbance measured at 518 nm depicted the scavenger activity of drugs against DPPH radical [28]. Ascorbic acid (10 μM) was used as a positive control of scavenger activity.…”

“…After 2 h, 500 μL of incubation solution was mixed with 500 μL of the Griess reagent. The absorbance was measured at 550 nm [28]. The values were compared with the control to determine the percentage of inhibition of the nitrite (NO 2 − ) reaction with the Griess reagent, which gave an index for the NO scavenger activity.…”

Chemical composition and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic root extract of Taraxacum Syriacum Boiss against acetaminophen intoxication in rats

“…Furthermore, histopathological alterations, as well as the increased levels of serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases caused by APAP, were prevented by T. offi cinale. In addition, T. offi cinale leaf extract also demonstrated antioxidant activity in vitro, as well as scavenger activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and nitric oxide radicals and their results clearly demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect of T. offi cinale leaf extract against the toxicity induced by APAP in mice (39).…”

Hepatoprotective properties of Dandelion: recent update

“…The TO extract shown to possess the free radical quenching activities. This protective effects of TO have been suggested to the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract (Colle et al, 2012). In a recent study, ethanolic and n-hexane TO leaves extract significantly decreased the liver marker enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in rats intoxicated with CCl 4.…”