TITLE:
Effect of Lion’s Foot (Alchemilla vulgaris) on Liver and Renal Functions in Rats Induced by CCl4
AUTHORS:
Eshak M. El-Hadidy, Omnia G. Refat, Mona S. Halaby, Eman M. Elmetwaly, Aya A. Omar
KEYWORDS:
Lion’s Foot (Alchemilla vulgaris), Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Chronic Liver Disease, Liver and Renal Function, Histopathological Evaluation
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.9 No.1,
January
31,
2018
ABSTRACT: The present work aims to study the influence of antioxidants activity of lion’s
foot (Alchemilla vulgaris) leaves at different concentrations to give more protection
against chronic liver disease. Results indicated that dried lion’s foot
leaves had rich in total polyphenolic and flavonoids content (395.65 and
183.10 mg/100g, respectively). These results were reflected to the antioxidant
activity (DPPH); it’s noticed that the antioxidant activity of dried lion’s foot
leaves was high (131.74%). The major polyphenolic components were benzoic
acid (1084.63 ppm) followed by ellagic acid, catechol, and catechin (614.16,
580.54, and 566.53 ppm, respectively) then salicylic acid and protocatechuic
acid (479.71 and 444.43 ppm, respectively). On the same trend, flavonoids
fractions indicated the highest content in luteo-6-arabinase 8-glucose, apig.
6-rhamnase 8-glucose, acatein, narengin and luteolin (40.01; 15.04; 8.07; 6.64
and 6.42 ppm, respectively). Fifty-six male albino rats were used in biological
experiments. Rats fed on basal diet for two weeks before the performance of
the experiment. At the beginning, rats divided into eight main group were fed
on diets for 45 days as follows: Negative control group (first group) was fed on
basal diet. Forty nine rats were fed on basal diet and induced by CCl4, in paraffin
oil (50% v/v, 2 ml/Kg) twice weeks subcutaneous injection to induce
chronic damage in the liver, then divided into 7 groups numbered from group
2 to group 8. Positive control group rats fed on basal diet till final experiment
(second group). Group 3 and 4 rats treated with 50 and 100 ppm ethanolic
leaves extracts, respectively. Also, group 5 and 6 treated with 50 and 100 ppm
aqueous leaves extracts, respectively. All extracts were fed on orally every day.
While, rats in group 7 treated with 1% and 2% dried lion’s foot leaves. At the
end of the experimental period, serums were collected to determine liver and renal functions. The liver was removed surgically for histopathological observation.
The results revealed that CCl4 intoxication impaired liver function.
Serum AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin levels were elevated by CCl4 administration,
while significant decreasing was noticed in serum albumin in CCl4 group. Histopathologically, CCl4 caused congestion of central vain, fatty
change of hepatocytes, and focal inflammatory cells in filtration. Treatment
with lion’s foot with different forms and concentration attenuated these adverse
effects and markedly ameliorated histopathological and biochemical alterations
caused by CCl4 especially with 2% powder and 100 ppm ethanol extract
administration. Therefore, the results of this study concluded that lion’s
foot can be proposed to protect hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in rats. The
results also revealed that the hepatoprotection effect of lion’s foot may be attributed
to its antioxidant contents and free radical scavenger effect.