Studying the effect of silver nanoparticles synthesized by ulva fasciata aqueous extract against liver toxicity induced by CCl4in rats

Background: Researchers in recent years have been increasingly concerned with the production of synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs) applying plant extracts, as these NPs have low environmental risk and low human toxicity. The present study aimed to use Ulva fasciata (UF) as a reducing agent for the green synthesis of silver NPs (AgNPs) and to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of these NPs against CCl4. Methods: In this study, aqueous extract of UF was used for the reduction of silver nitrate. Results: The results revealed a spherical shape of the AgNPs that are well distributed in solution with a size ranging 9–37 nm and an optical absorption at 430 nm. A total of 28 rats used in this study were randomly divided into four groups each of seven animals; control group, UF AgNPs group (150 mg/kg body weight/20 days), CCl4group (2 ml/kg/20 days of 1:1 v/v mixture of CCl4and olive oil), and CCl4and UF-AgNPs group. The results showed that CCl4injection increases in liver function enzymes, level of urea and creatinine, hepatic oxidative stress (a significant increase in lipid peroxidation with a significant decrease in glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities), and histopathological disorders of liver tissues as compared to control group. Rats received CCl4with UF- AgNPs showed significantly less severe damage and a remarkable improvement in the measured parameters when compared to CCl4rats. Conclusion: It is concluded that the aqueous extract UF can be used as an effective and eco-friendly reducing agent for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Furthermore, AgNPs capped with UF can be used as a potent antioxidant and a hepatoprotective agent against the biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by CCl4toxicity in the liver tissues.