Abstract
Due to the excessive impact of synthetic drugs, unravelling and employing safe, natural alternatives are now needed to resolve a number of diseases. In this research, we have evaluated hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Spirulina platensis and pomegranate juice in rats against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Spirulina crude carotenoid extract was screened by UPLC-MS / MS. Activities of liver marker enzymes; measured aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and determined lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status as reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver homogenate. The infusion of CCl4 (2 ml/kg b.wt) greatly increases levels of liver marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation, resulting in depletion of antioxidants. Treatment of Spirulina platensis (Sp), pomegranate juice (Pj)or mixture (PJSP) of Spirulina water extract 10% and pomegranate juice 90% (1 ml/100 g b.wt) to CCl4-disrupted rats resulted in decreased activity of liver marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation with increased antioxidant status. Chromatographic separation showed that beta-carotene is the predominant carotenoid extract. This carotenoid extract was tested for colon carcinoma (HCT-116), liver carcinoma (HepG2) and intestinal carcinoma cell lines (CACO) LC50 for 21.8, 14 and 11.3 ug / ml, respectively. Total phenolic phytochemicals, total carotenoids and total flavonoids were also measured in Spirulina. Our study clearly demonstrates that Spirulina platensis and pomegranate juice had hepatoprotective effect on CCl4-caused hepatotoxicity in rats through its antioxidant activity.