Protective effect of Bridelia tomentosa due to its phenolic acids and flavonoids against oxidative stress-mediated hepatic toxicity induced by carbofuran

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the protective role of Bridelia tomentosa Blume fruit against oxidative stress-mediated hepatic damage induced by carbofuran in rats and anti-radical effects of phenolic acids and flavonoids. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis was used to determine the presence of benzoic acid, gallic acid, salicylic acid, quercetin, and rutin which have in-vitro anti-radical effects. In-vivo results suggested that carbofuran produced toxic reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde which significantly affected serum biochemical parameters, endogenous hepatic antioxidants, and histological architecture of hepatocytes. Carbofuran also induced cytochrome P450 enzymes that increased reactive chemical species mediated cellular damage. However, oral treatment with B. tomentosa fruit methanol extract significantly attenuated the toxicant-induced hepatic toxicity on serum biochemical markers such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, total protein and lipid profile. Co-administration of fruit extract also significantly increased the hepatic endogenous antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione. Cytochrome P450 inhibitory activity and histopathological findings further confirmed the protective role against carbofuran induced damage. It could be concluded that phenolic acids and flavonoids of B. tomentosa fruit might neutralize the toxic free radical mediated oxidative hepatic injury.