Immunomodulatory and Inflammation-suppressive Effects of Arundo donax L. in a Hepatic Injury Model
TL;DR
The conclusion from this study can be helpful in the usage of AD as an adjuvant therapy that minimizes toxic effects of chemotherapy and improves treatment outcomes.
Abstract
The present study is aimed at the evaluation of protective effects of Arundo donax L. (AD) against chemical-induced toxicity in rats, especially considering its antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and hematoprotective activities. The antioxidant potential of AD extract was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated in Wistar rats using carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity models by estimating biochemical liver markers and histopathology. In this study, doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight were selected. AD extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, as shown by the DPPH radical scavenging activity of 77.68% at 250 µg/mL compared to ascorbic acid at 81.15%. The treatment with AD extract at 400 mg/kg significantly restored serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase of 115 IU/L, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase of 252.65 IU/L, and alkaline phosphatase of 229 IU/L, whereas it increased total protein to 5.06 g/dL and albumin to 2.28 mg/dL in restoring liver function. Similarly, in the paracetamol model, AD extract at 400 mg/kg improved hepatotoxicity markers, reducing bilirubin levels to 1.23 mg/dL, while increasing total protein (10.65 g/dL) and albumin (3.65 mg/dL). Hematological suppression was significantly found after cyclophosphamide administration (hemoglobin: 7.37 g%, red blood cell: 2.48 million/mm³, white blood cell: 0.71 thousand/mm³, platelets: 335.83 × 104 per mm³). The conclusion from this study can be helpful in the usage of AD as an adjuvant therapy that minimizes toxic effects of chemotherapy and improves treatment outcomes.