RT Journal Article ID 49d6b53600baaace A1 Ganie, Showkat Ahmad A1 Dar, Tanveer Ali A1 Zargar, Bilal A1 Hamid, Rabia A1 Zargar, Ovais A1 Dar, Parvaiz Ahmad A1 Abeer, Shayaq Ul A1 Masood, Akbar A1 Amin, Shajrul A1 Zargar, Mohammad Afzal T1 Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Crataegus songarica Methanol Extract JF Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology JO JEP(T) YR 2014 FD 2014-05-09 VO 33 IS 2 SP 131 OP 143 K1 hepatoprotective effect K1 Crataegus songarica extract K1 liver injury K1 chronic CCl4 paracetamol K1 oxidative stress AB The protective activity of the methanolic extract of the Crataegus songarica leaves was investigated against CCl4- and paracetamol-induced liver damage. On folklore levels, this plant is popularly used to treat various toxicological diseases. We evaluated both in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of C. songarica. At higher concentration of plant extract (700 µg/ml), 88.106% inhibition on DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed and reducing power of extract was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, C. songarica extract exhibited antioxidant effects on calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Hepatotoxicity was induced by challenging the animals with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight, i.p.) and paracetamol (500 mg/kg body weight) and the extract was administered at three concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight). Hepatoprotection was evaluated by determining the activities of liver function marker enzymes and antioxidant status of liver. Administration of CCl4 elevated the levels of liver function enzymes, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH. We also observed a dramatic increase in ALT, AST, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels in rats administered 500 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol. Decreased antioxidant defense system as glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in rats treated with CCl4 and paracetamol. Pretreatment with the extract decreased the elevated serum GOT, GPT, LDH, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase activities and increased the antioxidant enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, C. songarica methanol extract may be an effective hepatic protective agent and viable candidate for treating hepatic disorders and other oxidative stress-related diseases. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/0ff459a57a4c08d0,249005dc454eb8de,49d6b53600baaace.html