Original article
English
Eduardo Antonio Ferreira 1, Eliana Fortes Gris1, Karina Bettega Felipe1, Joمo Francisco Gomes Correia1, Eduardo Cargnin-Ferreira 2, Danilo Wilhelm Filho 3 and Rozangela Curi Pedrosa 1*
1-Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianَpolis, SC, Brazil; 2-Department of Cell Biology, Embryology, and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianَpolis, SC, Brazil; 3Department of Ecology and Zoology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianَpolis, SC, Brazil
Libyan J Med 2010, 5: 4891 – DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.4891
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant properties of phloroacetophenone (2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyacetophenone – THA), an acetophenone derived from the plant Myrcia multiflora. Material & Method: The free radical scavenging activity in vitro and induction of oxidative hepatic damage by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (0.5 ml/kg, i.p.) were tested in male Swiss mice (25±5 g). Results: This compound exhibited in vitro antioxidant effects on FeCl2-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in mouse liver homogenate, scavenging hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, and 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl. The in vivo assays showed that THA significantly (p<0.01) prevented the increases of hepatic LPO as measured by the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, mitochondrial swelling. It also protected hepatocytes against protein carbonylation and oxidative DNA damage. Consistent with these observations, THA pre-treatment normalized the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and increased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in CCl4-treated mice. In addition, THA treatment significantly prevented the elevation of serum enzymatic activities of alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as histological alterations induced by CCl4. Silymarin (SIL) (24 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug used for comparison, led to a significant decrease (p<0.01) in activities of theses enzymes in way very similar to that observed in pre-treatment with THA. Conclusion: These results suggest that the protective effects are due to reduction of oxidative damage induced by CCl4 resulting from the antioxidant properties of THA. Keywords: antioxidant; hepatoprotective; 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone; Myrcia multiflora; CCl4; Silymarin Link/DOI: http://www.libyanjournalofmedicine.net/index.php/ljm/article/view/4891/html_7