ArticlesAbstractPharmacognosy Research,2017,9,5s,s84-s91.DOI:10.4103/pr.pr_26_17Published:December 2017Type:Original ArticleAuthors:Md. Ariful Islam, Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Faruk, Md. Tauhid Ul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Nazmul Alam, A. F. M. Towheedur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud Reza, and Md. Ashraful Alam Author(s) affiliations:Md. Ariful Islam, Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Faruk, Md. Tauhid Ul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Nazmul Alam, A. F. M. Towheedur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud Reza, Md. Ashraful Alam Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh Abstract:Background: Astaxanthin is of carotenoids group which possess strong antioxidant properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of astaxanthin in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‑treated rats. Materials and Methods: Female Long‑Evans rats were administered with CCl4 orally (1 ml/kg) twice a week for 2 weeks and were treated with astaxanthin (10 mg/kg) every day for 2 weeks. Blood plasma samples were isolated from each group and were analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase activities. Oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and advanced protein oxidation product (APOP) were measured. Several enzyme functions such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the plasma and liver tissues were also analyzed. Moreover, inflammation and tissue fibrosis were also confirmed by histological staining of liver tissues. Results: This investigation revealed that CCl4 administration in rats increased plasma AST, ALT, and ALP activities which were normalized by astaxanthin treatment. Moreover, CCl4 administration increased as MDA, NO, and APOP level both in plasma and tissues compared to control rats. Astaxanthin also exhibited a significant reduction of those parameters in CCl4‑administered rats. Astaxanthin treatment also restored the CAT and SOD activities and lowered MPO activity in CCl4‑administered rats. Histological assessment also revealed that the astaxanthin prevented the inflammatory cells infiltration, decreased free iron deposition, and fibrosis in liver of CCl4‑administered rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that astaxanthin protects liver damage induced by CCl4 by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and stimulating the cellular antioxidant system. Keywords:Carbon tetrachloride, Fibrosis, Inflammation, Lipid peroxidationView:PDF (1.79 MB) PDF Thumbnails Document Outline Search Document Find Toggle Sidebar Previous Next Page: Fullscreen Print Download Current View Zoom Out Zoom In Automatic Zoom Actual Size Fit Page Full Width 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 200% More Information Less Information Close Click here to download the PDF file. Images Effect of astaxanthin on body weight, food, and water intake in carbon tetrachloride‑induced rats KeywordsCarbon tetrachlorideFibrosisInflammationLipid peroxidation ‹ Assessment of Nutritional Quality and Global Antioxidant Response of Banana (Musa sp. CV. Nanjangud Rasa Bale) Pseudostem and Flower up Marine‑derived Fungi Extracts Enhance the Cytotoxic Activity of Doxorubicin in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Cells A459 ›