CATECHIN AMELIORATES MARKERS OF HEPATIC DAMAGE AND MODULATES IMMUNE RESPONSES IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INTOXICATED RATS

Abstract

The pathogenesis of drug- or toxin-induced hepatic damage usually involves toxic metabolites that either elicit immune responses or directly impact cellular metabolism. This study evaluates the hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of (+)-catechin in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxicated Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats randomized into five groups (n = 7) were used for this study. Liver injury was caused using a single intraperitoneal (ip) shot of CCl4 laced in olive oil, while treatments with silymarin and (+)-catechin were orally administered, once daily, for7 days. Blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture from fasted anesthetized rats for biochemical analyses, and the liver excised for histology and molecular studies. Malondialdehyde-MDA, serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase-ALT/AST, alkaline phosphatase-ALP, and gamma glutamyl transferase-GGT) activities, as well as pro-inflammatory markers; cyclooxygenase-COX-2, interlukin-IL-1β, interlukin-IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-TNF-α were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, while albumin, reduced glutathione-GSH, superoxide dismutase-SOD and catalase-CAT activities were decreased, with their genes (SOD and CAT) downregulated in Group II rats compared to the control. However, (+)-catechin in a dose dependent manner, significantly (p < 0.05) improved albumin levels, lowered hepatic enzymes activities, suppressed inflammatory markers and enhanced the antioxidant status of treated rats. Therefore, these findings support the hepatoprotective, antioxidant and immunomodulatory potentials of (+)-catechin. The results contribute to the existing literature on evidence of catechin as a pharmacological molecule of interest in drug discovery, and highlights the need for its exploits as an adjuvant, supplement or a fortification in therapeutic preparations.