1. Hepatoprotective effects of Astragalus kahiricus root extract against ethanol-induced liver apoptosis in rats
- Author
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Asser I. Ghoneim, Mohamed M. Radwan, Ola A. Sharaf, Soad M. Toaima, Nadia A. El-Sebakhy, Rasha M. Allam, Amani E. Khalifa, Salwa M. Nofal, Dina A. Selim, and Aya M. Asaad
- Subjects
Apoptosis ,DNA Fragmentation ,Pharmacology ,Biology ,Protective Agents ,Plant Roots ,Terpene ,Rats, Sprague-Dawley ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Drug Discovery ,Animals ,Humans ,Cycloastragenol ,Ethanol ,Caspase 3 ,Plant Extracts ,General Medicine ,Glutathione ,Astragalus Plant ,Antimicrobial ,Rats ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Biochemistry ,chemistry ,Phytochemical ,Liver ,DNA fragmentation ,Female ,Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - Abstract
The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of Astragalus kahiricus (Fabaceae) roots against ethanol-induced liver apoptosis was evaluated and it showed very promising hepatoprotective actions through different mechanisms. The extract counteracted the ethanol-induced liver enzymes leakage and glutathione depletion. In addition, it demonstrated anti-apoptotic effects against caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation that were confirmed by liver histopathological examination. Moreover, the phytochemical study of this extract led to the isolation of four cycloartane-type triterpenes identified as astrasieversianin II (1), astramembrannin II (2), astrasieversianin XIV (3), and cycloastragenol (4). The structures of these isolates were established by HRESI-MS and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The antimicrobial, antimalarial, and cytotoxic activities of the isolates were further evaluated, but none of them showed any activity.
- Published
- 2012