Quillaja saponaria bark saponin protects Wistar rats against ferrous sulphate-induced oxidative and inflammatory liver damage

Abstract

Context: Saponins from different sources are historically reported in Chinese medicine to possess many beneficial effects. However, insufficient experimental data are available regarding the hepatoprotective potential of Quillaja bark saponin.Objective: The protective effect of Quillaja saponaria Molina (Quillajaceae) bark triterpenoid saponin against iron-induced hepatotoxicity is compared to the standard N-acetylcysteine in adult male Wistar rats.Materials and methods: Animals were divided into (six) groups, namely a normal control, an N-acetylcysteine control (300 mg/kg/day, p.o., 10 days), a saponin control (100 mg/kg/day, p.o., for 10 days), a hepatotoxicity control (two doses of ferrous sulphate, 30 mg/kg/day each, i.p., on 9th and 10th day), an N-acetylcysteine plus ferrous sulphate (standard treatment) and a saponin plus ferrous sulphate (test treatment) group. Hepatocyte integrity loss markers (serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and LDH), oxidative stress markers (hepatic MDA, GSH and NOx), dyslipidaemic markers (serum TC and TG) and hepatocyte functioning markers (serum bilirubin and albumin) were assessed.Results:Quillaja bark saponin decreased iron-induced elevation of ALT (reaching 57% of hepatotoxicity control), AST (66%), ALP (76%), GGT (60%), LDH (54%), MDA (65%), NOx (77%), TC (70%), TG (54%), and total (54%), direct (54%) and indirect (54%) bilirubin, coupled with increased GSH (219%) and albumin (159%) levels. Histopathological study strongly supported biochemical estimations, while immunohistochemical study showed marked effect on eNOS and iNOS expression.Conclusions:Quillaja bark saponin has a good hepatoprotective effect. Amelioration of oxidative stress and suppression of NOS expression, with resultant maintenance of hepatocyte integrity and functioning, may explain this beneficial effect.

Saponins from Quillaja saponaria and Quillaja brasiliensis: Particular Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activities

“…Thought-provokingly, Abdel-Reheim et al [59] demonstrated that bark saponins from Q. saponaria are interesting hepatoprotective agents. In this study, the authors verified that saponin significantly decreased the elevation of ALT (achieving 57% hepatotoxicity control), AST (66%), ALP (76%), GGT (60%), NOx (77%), TC (70%), MDA (65%), LDH (54%), TG (54%), and total (54%), direct (54%), and indirect (54%) bilirubin, coupled with increased GSH (219%) and albumin (159%) levels.…”

“…The decrease in TG and TC serum levels can be explained by the decrease in intestinal cholesterol absorption and by the reduction in cholesterol levels, accompanied by an increase in the HMG-CoA reductase activity and LDL receptor levels in the liver [62]. In addition, the immunohistochemical results help to explain Quillaja bark saponins’ protective activity, since saponins suppressed NOS expression, attenuating oxidative and nitrosative stress [59].…”

Quillaja saponaria and/or linseed oil improved growth performance, water quality, welfare profile and immune‐oxidative status of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

“…The total saponin content of the plant extract can exceed 100 members, most of which are Quil‐A (Barr et al, 1998). Quillaja bark saponin is characteristically distinct in chemical composition from other triterpenoid plant saponins (Ahmed Abdel‐Reheim et al, 2017). The distinction can be expressed by the domain of fatty acids and triterpene aldehydes in carbon 4 triterpene (Kensil et al, 1995).…”

Medicinal Plants and Isolated Molecules Demonstrating Immunomodulation Activity as Potential Alternative Therapies for Viral Diseases Including COVID-19

“…The bark of the plant also exhibited antitumor, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic potential ( 151 ). As hepatoprotective agent, bark saponin decreased the iron-induced elevation of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, LDH, MDA, NOx, TC, and TG, as well as the total direct and indirect bilirubin and albumin levels ( 152 ).…”