Phytochemical Screening and Protective Effects of Prunus persica Seeds Extract on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a dynamic environmental toxin released from chemical factories and its concentration in atmosphere is accelerating at an alarming proportion. Potential presence of CCl4 in human body causes liver injury via free radical stimulated inflammatory responses. OBJECTIVES In this study, protective effects of hydromethanolic seeds extract of Prunus persica (PPHM) were evaluated for free radical scavenging potential in CCl4 mediated acute liver toxicity in murine model. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Followed by acute oral toxicity analysis, liver cells of Sprague-dawley (SD) rats were treated with CCl4 and subsequently chemoprophylactic effect of extract (400 mg/Kg dose) was evaluated using in vivo studies including silymarin as positive control. Biochemical parameters, staining (hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and masson's trichome) and quantitative gene expression analysis via real-time PCR was used to evaluate hepatic damage control. RESULTS The results illustrated that PPHM extract exhibit strong antioxidant activity comparable to positive control, gallic acid. Research study results also demonstrated that extract treatment at 400 mg/Kg concentration is highly effective in protecting liver damage due to CCl4 exposure. Mechanistic investigations indicated the therapeutic action of PPHM was correlated with the increase in Nrf2, NQO-1 and decrease in collagen III mRNA genes expression as compared to CCl4 treated group. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Accordingly, our research study indicated that PPHM alleviated CCl4-mediated oxidative stress through Nrf2/NQO-1 pathway, thereby protecting liver damage against environmental toxins. Our findings provide supportive evidence to suggest PPHM as a novel nontoxic hepatoprotective agent.