Hepatoprotective effect of Geranium schiedeanum against ethanol toxicity during liver regeneration

AIM: To evaluate the effect of an extract of Geranium schiedeanum(Gs) as a hepatoprotective agent against ethanol(Et OH)-induced toxicity in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats weighing 200-230 g were subjected to a 70% partial hepatectomy(PH); they were then divided into three groups(groups 1-3). During the experiment, animals in group 1 drank only water. The other two groups(2-3) drank an aqueous solution of Et OH(40%, v/v). Additionally, rats in group 3 received a Gs extract daily at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight intragastically. Subsequently, to identify markers of liver damage in serum, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and bilirubin were measured by colorimetric methods. Glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were also determined. In addition, oxidative damage was estimated by measuring lipid peroxidation [using thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances(TBARS)] in both plasma and the liver and by measuring the total concentration of antioxidants in serum and the total antioxidant capacity in the liver. In addition, a liver mass gain assessment, total DNA analysis and a morpho-histological analysis of the liver from animals in all three groups were performed and compared. Finally, the number of deaths observed in the three groups was analyzed.RESULTS: Administration of the Geranium shiedeanum extract significantly reduced the unfavorable effect of ethanol on liver regeneration(restitution liver mass: PHEt OH group 60.68% vs PH-Gs-Et OH group 69.22%). This finding was congruent with the reduced levels of hepatic enzymes and the sustained or increased levels of albumin and decreased bilirubin in serum. The extract also modified the metabolic processes that regulate glucose and lipid levels, as observed from the serum measurements. Lower antioxidant levels and the liver damage induced by Et OH administration appeared to be mitigated by the extract, as observed from the TBARs(PH-Et OH group 200.14 mmol/mg vs PH-Gs-Et OH group 54.20 mmol/mg; P < 0.05), total status of antioxidants(PH-Et OH group 1.43 mmol/L vs PH-Gs-Et OH group 1.99 mmol/L; P < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity values, liver mass gain and total DNA determination(PH-Et OH group 4.80 mg/g vs PH-Gs-Et OH 9.10 mg/g; P < 0.05). Overall, these processes could be related to decreased mortality in these treated animals.CONCLUSION: The administered extract showed a hepatoprotective effect, limiting the Et OH-induced hepatotoxic effects. This effect can be related tomodulating oxido-reduction processes.

Liver disorders in COVID-19,nutritional approaches and the use of phytochemicals

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2),has affected millions of people globally.It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020.The hyperinflammatory response to the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is the result of a“cytokine storm”and the high oxidative stress responsible for the associated symptomatology.Not only respiratory symptoms are reported,but gastrointestinal symptoms(diarrhea,vomiting,and nausea)and liver abnormalities(high levels of aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase transaminases,and bilirubin)are observed in at least 30%of patients.Reduced food intake and a delay in medical services may lead to malnutrition,which increases mortality and poor outcomes.This review provides some strategies to identify malnutrition and establishes nutritional approaches for the management of COVID-19 and liver injury,taking energy and nutrient requirements and their impact on the immune response into account.The roles of certain phytochemicals in the prevention of the disease or as promising target drugs in the treatment of this disease are also considered.