Abstract
Investigation of functional hepatoprotective components from plants origin is a new model for drug evolution. The study examined the protective effects of Arabic gum (AG) induction on liver serum markers, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue against trichloroacetate (TCA) induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. Also, the chemical constituents and antioxidant assay of aqueous extract of AG was determined. TCA at the dose of 50 mg/kg for 2 months produced hepatotoxicity as examined by the significant increase of serum activities of ALT, AST, ALP and conjugated bilirubin level in the TCA treated animals alone and decrease in total protein and albumin levels. Pretreatment with AG aqueous extract (0.5 g/kg/day) significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the serum enzyme activities and increased in total proteins and albumin level. The antioxidant studies showed that the activities of hepatic SOD, CAT and GPx were decreased in TCA induced animals with significantly elevated in MDA content which is reversed in pretreatment with aqueous extract of AG. Histopathology of the liver sections confirmed that the AG extract ameliorated hepatic damage induced by TCA. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that AG supplementation for 2 months in TCA induced toxicity in rats benefited hepatic antioxidant status and improved liver injury and damage in male albino rats exposed to TCA.