Evaluation of the Antioxidative and Hepatoprotective Activity of Ulva lactuca in a CCl4-Induced Liver Injury Model
TL;DR
U. lactuca showed promising effects against sub-chronic liver injury, primarily due to its rich nutritional profile, and its incorporation into the Pakistani diet may reduce disease and economic burden while supporting functional food and nutraceutical industries.
Abstract
Background: Ulva lactuca is abundant in bioactive components that provide antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties against oxidative stress. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the nutritional composition, antioxidative potential and hepatoprotective efficacy of U. lactuca in a CCl4-induced liver injury model. Methods: Proximate analysis, phytochemical profiling (phenolic and flavonoid content, GC-MS and LC-MS) and antioxidant assays (DPPH and FRAP) were performed, followed by an in vivo efficacy trial. Hepatotoxicity was induced using CCl4, and U. lactuca methanolic extract (1000 mg/kg body weight) was administered for four weeks. Results: The proximate analysis demonstrated 10.5% ash, 10.83% protein and 39.43% fibre. GC-MS and LC-MS identified hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, gallic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and syringic acid. TPC was higher in aqueous (2015.1 mgGAE/100 mL) and TFC in ethanolic (750.5 µgQE/mL) extract. Aqueous extract (170.1 ± 0.1 µmol/g) displayed superior reducing power while ethanolic extract (77.7%) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity. U. lactuca promoted weight recovery, improved lipid profiles, decreased hepatic and oxidative stress biomarkers (p-value < 0.05), and restored liver histology. Conclusions: U. lactuca showed promising effects against sub-chronic liver injury, primarily due to its rich nutritional profile. Thus, its incorporation into the Pakistani diet may reduce disease and economic burden while supporting functional food and nutraceutical industries.