Phenolic compounds and hepatoprotective potential of Anastatica hierochuntica ethanolic and aqueous extracts against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Anastatica hierochuntica ethanolic（KEE）, aqueous（KAE） extracts, and their combination against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.METHODS: The HPLC analysis for KEE and KAE was quantitatively carried out. Biochemical liver markers, antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological alterations were examined then total hepatoprotection potential was calculated.RESULTS: Among 9 identified phenolic compounds（PC） in KEA, sinapic acid was the highest while syringic acid was the highest among 21 identified PC in KAE. Six flavonoids were identified in KEE and two in KAE using HPLC, respectively. Oral administration of KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE at 250 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced aspartate aminotransferase（AST）, alanine aminotransferase（ALT） levels, alkaline phosphatase（ALP）, total bilirubin（TBILI）, and also attenuated histopathological changes. Additionally, they reduced malondialdehyde（MOD）, restored reduced-glutathione（GSH）,and enhanced superoxide dismutase（SOD） levels.KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE protected the liver from CCl4-hepatotoxicity as they mainly attenuating oxidative stress. Total hepatoprotection was about 128.3%, 114.5%, and 103.8% for KEE, KAE, and KEE+KAE, respectively.CONCLUSION: Biochemical observations, supplemented by histopathological examination revealed that AH affords extract-depending protection against CCl4-hepatotoxicity.