Evaluation of hepatoprotective potential of functional food formulations using in vitro and in vivo models of CCl4 radical induced toxicity

Carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) induced acute hepatotoxicity causes severe damage to hepatocytes and affects the liver functions which resemble various liver ailments like hepatitis, jaundice, cancer etc. Using 12-different fruits, formulation F1 and F2 were prepared. Hepatoprotective potential of the formulations was assessed using HepG2 cell (in vitro) and rat model (in vivo). Biochemical parameters like alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, plasma TBARS, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, total cholesterol, triglycerides were studied. Various markers of liver functions viz., super oxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, tissue Thio barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assessed. Significant decrease in the activity of aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin was observed in formulation F1 followed by F2 groups as compared with CCl4 treated group. The biochemical and histopathological observations supported hepatoprotective effect. Antioxidant enriched polyherbal formulations F1 and F2 effectively ameliorated CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity by improving antioxidant status in rats.