The hepatoprotective effect of livergol microemulsion preparation (nanoparticle) against bromobenzene induced toxicity in mice

Abstract

Livergol (LG), which is the extract of Silybum marianum and commonly known as milk thistle possess hepatoprotective effect and have got licensed for sale in Iran and other countries. LG was evaluated for its capacity to counteract the toxic effects of bromobenzene (BB) on mouse liver. The bioactive component of this plant is known to reinforce naturally occurring liver function through antioxidant activity, the stimulation of bile production and regeneration by the liver organ, resulting in enhanced protection against toxicants, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The major bioactive components of this product are the flavonolignan ssilibinin, silidianin, silicristin, and isosilibinin. Mice were treated for 10 days with daily gavage of microemulsions (MEs), into which 0-400 mg/kg LG was dispersed. 0.36 ml/kg BB was injected intraperitoneally (ip) to each animal on day 10, followed by sacrifice on day 11, and histological evaluation of hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained liver tissue samples, afterwards followed by evaluation liver enzymes level, aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Significant suppression of BB-mediated damage to liver tissue, and increased in AST, ALT, and ALP level was observed to occur dose-responsively with LG administration, suggesting a use for LG as a chemoprotectant for persons chronically exposed to industrial solvents.

Keywords: Bromobenzene; Iivergol; Liver; Mice; Microemulsion of milk thistle.

Fig. 1

Pseudo-ternary phase (PTP) diagram of the system (olive oil; Tween 80: Span 20; propylene glycol/ water). Transparent MEs are represented by the dark area, with the remaining sectors of the PTP diagram representing cloudy (turbid) emulsions.

Fig. 2

Histopathological evaluation of liver tissue.5-μm thick tissue sections harvested from Swiss Albino mice, HE-stained and formalin-fixed, and examined by light microscopy. Results shown correspond to hepatic tissue taken from animals treated by oral gavage for 10 days with NS or MEs vehicle, with or without selected dosage of LG, followed by ip injection of 0.36 ml/kg BB or vehicle (MEs without LG), and sacrifice 24 h after injections. Photographs at 400X magnification are shown for tissue from animals receiving the following treatment combinations: (A) NS, no BB; (B) MEs vehicle, no BB; (C) MEs with 400 mg/kg LG, no BB; (D) MEs vehicle, no LG, 0 0.36 ml/kg BB; (E) MEs with 50 mg/kg LG, 0 0.36 ml/kg BB; (F) MEs with 100 mg/kg LG, 0 0.36 ml/kg BB; (G) MEs with 200 mg/kg LG, 0 0.36 ml/kg BB; (H) and MEs with 400 mg/kg LG, 0 0.36 ml/kg BB.