Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. Attenuates Alcoholic Liver Injury in Wistar Rats by Reducing Oxidative Stress
Author(s): Kishore Naidu Killari*, Ho Viet Hieu, Prasad Konduri, Manasa Rampathoti, Santosh Kumar Ranajith and Mallikarjuna Rao Talluri
Abstract
Background: Lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. belong to the family Lobariaceae. L. pulmonaria is being traditionally used to cure lung ailments, liver diseases, diarrhoea, heavy menstrual flow, and jaundice. With such a wide range of medicinal applications, it’s essential to scientifically authenticate traditional usage of L. pulmonaria. The present study is aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of selected ethanolic fractions of L. pulmonaria in alcohol induced oxidative stress in rats.
Methods: In vitro antioxidant activities were performed using DPPH radical scavenging and ferric ions reducing power assays. In vivo hepatoprotective activity was assessed by using ethanol induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats.
Results: Initially, ethanolic extract of L. pulmonaria was fractionated using column chromatography. The preliminary antioxidant screening of these fractions identified two main bioactive fractions (LP3 and LP4), which were found to have significant radical scavenging and metal ion chelation properties compared with ascorbic acid. Based on the antioxidant profile, LP3 and LP4 were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in ethanol intoxicated rats. The Wistar rats were grouped (n=6) and treated with LP3 and LP4 (100 and 200 mg/kg), ethanol (5 g/kg, 20%w/v) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) orally for 28 days. The outcomes of the study found that chronic administration of ethanol significantly (P<0.0001) altered the liver parameters and oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, and CAT). The co-administration of LP4 prominently ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by ethanol compared to LP3. Histopathological studies further supported the significant protective action of LP4.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the L. pulmonaria possess significant antioxidant properties by augmenting the magnitude of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT and further reducing MDA levels.
