Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effect of Solanum nigrum fruit extract on the experimental model against chronic ethanol toxicity

Abstract

The possible protective effect of Solanum nigrum fruit extract (SNFEt) was investigated for its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity against ethanol-induced toxicity in rats. The experimental animals were intoxicated with 20% ethanol (7.9 g/kg/day) for 30 days via gastric intubation. SNFEt was administered at the dose of 250 mg/kg body weight along with the daily dose of ethanol for 30 days. From the result it was observed that ethanol-induced rats showed a significant elevation in the levels of Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), which lowered the antioxidant defense systems, such as, reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamins C and E, when compared to the controls. In the lipid profiles, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), free fatty acids (FFA), and phospholipids were significantly elevated in the ethanol-induced group, whereas, the high density lipoproteins (HDL) were found to be reduced in the plasma, and the phospholipid levels were significantly decreased in the tissues. Supplementation of SNFEt improved the antioxidant status by decreasing the levels of TBARS and altering the lipid profiles to near normal. These activities were also compared to the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg body weight). Thus the findings of the present study indicated a significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Solanum nigrum fruits, which offered protection against ethanol-induced toxicity.

Keywords: Antihyperlipidemic; Solanum nigrum; antioxidant; ethanol.

Figure 1

Histopathological examination of liver tissues of control and experimental animals; Group I (Control) Liver shows central vein surrounded by normal hepatocytes; Group II (Ethanol) Liver shows feathery degeneration, micro- and macrovesicular fatty changes, periportal fibrosis, and vascular congestion; Group III (Ethanol + SNFEt) liver shows normal histology with mild congestion of the central vein; Group IV (Ethanol + Silymarin) liver shows normal cells with mild inflammation in the portal triad; Group V (Control + SNFEt) liver shows central vein surrounded by normal hepatocytes; Group VI (Control + Silymarin) liver shows normal hepatocytes