Analysis on Antioxidant Activity and Hepatoprotective Effects of Cynara scolymus L. - Based Herbal Formula
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Abstract:
Zebrafish studies were conducted to test the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, and hepatoprotective effects of the combined herbal formula of Cynara scolymus L. and the three medicine-food homology plants (Hovenia dulcis., Pueraria lobata, and Curcuma longa). The in vitro anti-oxidative activity showed that the scavenging capacity values, IC50, of 1-diphenyl-2-trinitrobenzene hydrazine (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals were 80.18 μg/mL and 256.15 μg/mL, respectively. The in vitro anti-inflammatory assay showed that the hepatoprotective formula significantly inhibited expression levels and secretion (P<0.05) of the inflammation factors, TNF-α, IL-6, and NO, with inhibition rates of 48.12%, 31.77%, and 27.38%, respectively. The results of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in zebrafish showed that liver areas increased by 30.07% and liver brightness significantly improved by 12.48%,. The vitelline sac areas significantly decreased by 56.16% in the high-dose group (62.5 μg/mL) (P<0.001). The hepatocellular degeneration and cell necrosis were significantly improved in the low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose groups (15.6, 31.25, and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively). In the liver tissue, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities decreased (P<0.05), and showed a dose-dependent relationship. The result of this study showed a Cynara scolymus L.-based hepatoprotective herbal formula exhibited significant hepatoprotective effects on APAP-induced liver damage in zebrafish, presenting strong in vitro antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity.
