Protective effects of leaf aqueous extracts from Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. on alcoholic liver disease in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Gardenia ternifolia (GT) is a plant of the Rubiaceae family, with a wide range of ethnopharmacological properties. However, its hepatoprotective effects were poorly investigated. This work aimed at assessing the hepatoprotective activity of GT leaf aqueous extracts against chronic ethanol-induced damage in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats were given orally 10 % ethanol (10 mL/kg) and different doses of GT extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) or distilled water (negative control) simultaneously and daily for 28 days. Normal controls were fed with a normal diet while positive controls received, in addition to ethanol, silymarin (50 mg/kg). After treatment, animals were sacrificed, blood and liver samples were collected, various biochemical parameters were quantified and the histological sections were performed. Moreover, a qualitative phytochemical analysis of this extract was carried out.

RESULTS: GT administration significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (10.35 ± 2.13 U/L and 9.07 ± 2.13 U/L vs 24.43 ± 4.28 UI/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (14.25 ± 3.02 and 18.32 ± 2.13 UI/L vs 34.61 ± 3.23 UI/L) activities at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively in comparison with the negative control. Likewise, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by GT extract, especially at the dose of 200 mg/kg compared to the ethanol-treated group. Histological examination showed that the extract protected the liver by reducing hepatic cytolysis, and leukocyte infiltration. Different secondary metabolites including condensed tannins, phenolic acids, and saponins were found in the GT extract but none of these compounds corresponded to epicatechin, coumarin and naringenin.

CONCLUSION: These results show that GT extract may be a potential therapeutic agent against alcoholic liver disease.