Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. prevents hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in CCl4-induced ovariectomized rats

Summary Plant-derived natural products have shown beneficial effects in many diseases associated with liver. The present study aimed to appraise the effects of Trichosanthes dioica (TD) peel extract on oxidative stress, inflammation as well as fibrosis exhibited by the ovariectomized rats in which hepatic damage had been induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The CCl4 administration in the ovariectomized rats elevated the plasma ALT, AST, and ALP level in comparison with the control while TD peel extract showed significant reduction of those activities. Besides, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation also increased in CCl4-treated rats. TD peel extract significantly reduced the oxidative stress marker's concentration and improved the catalase and SOD activities in CCl4-administered ovariectomized rats. These results suggest that TD peel extract is capable of protecting the liver from CCl4induced damage through preventing oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, fibrosis and boosting the diminished cellular antioxidant defense.