Comparative anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of Astragalus gummifer Labill herb and roots in rats

Abstract

Background: The Astragalus gummifer (F. Fabaceae), herb and roots were studied for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.

Materials and method: The alcoholic extracts of Astragalus gummifer (F. Fabaceae), herb (AGHE), and roots (AGRE), were used for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities in Wister rats. The effects of AGHE and AGRE were compared with the standard drugs Phenylbutazone and silymarin, for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities respectively.

Result: Both extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (P< 0.001). AGRE showed comparatively more significant hepatoprotective activity (P< 0.001), than AGHE (P< 0.05); at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight as manifested by lowering the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. The hepatoprotective activity was, also, supported by total protein (TP), malondialdehyde (MDA), nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), and histo-pathological studies of liver tissue.

Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of Astragalus gummifer. The results of present studies indicated that both AGHE and AGRE can be used in inflammatory conditions, while investigation supports the use of AGRE in cases that hepatoprotection are required in the hepatotoxic conditions. More supportive studies are required before clinical recommendation.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Astragalus gummifer; Biochemical; CCl4; Hepatoprotective; carrageenan.

Figure 1-7

Light micrograph of liver sections. Liver section from control rats appeared normal histological structure of hepatic lobule (Figure-1). Liver section from CCl₄ rats appeared hydropic degradation of hepatocytes and partial infiltration with inflammatory cells (Figure-2). Liver section of Silymarin-treated rats appeared slightly activation of kupffer cells (Figure-3). Liver section of CCl₄+AGHE 250mg/kg treated rats showed local hepatic hemorrhage (Figure-4). Liver section of CCl₄+AGHE 500mg/kg treated rats showed no histopathological changes (Figure5). Liver section of CCl₄+AGRE 250mg/kg treated rats showed slight kupffer cells activation (Figure-6). Liver section of CCl₄+AGRE 500mg/kg treated rats showed slight granulating of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes (Figure-7). Haematoxylin and eosin stain, H and E magnification × 400