Exploring of the hepatoprotective role of Alcea hohenackeri Boiss. flower extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress in rats

Hollyhock (Alcea hohenackeri Boiss.) plant is used in folk medicine to remedy such as colds, wound disinfection, stomach and kidney pains, gynecological diseases, ureter and kidney stones and urinary tract disorders. In this study, the phenolic profile of Alcea hohenackeri plant methanolic flower extract (AHFE) was determined by LC-MS/MS and the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of AHFE were investigated in a rat model of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). After the toxicity test, 42 rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 7). Control group, CCl4 (2 mL/kg of CCl4 diluted to 30% by volume with olive oil twice a week, intraperitoneal, i.p.) group, CCl4 + AHFE (50, 150 and 450 mg/kg, gavage) applied groups, CCl4 +silimarin (100 mg/kg, gavage) applied group. Five weeks later, blood and liver tissues were collected. Liver damage biomarker enzymes were analyzed in serum, and malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and various antioxidant enzyme activities were analyzed in liver tissue supernatant. According to the findings, the highest amount of total phenolic content was found in methanol extracts as 107.60±2.55 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and the total amount of flavonoit content was 43.04±0.73 mg/g quercetin equivalent. In LC-MS/MS phytochemical content quantification analysis, the first four major compounds were determined to be nicotifluorine (55.28), astragalin (54.751), routine (9.115) and isoquercitrin (8.608) mg analyte/g extract. Treatment of rats with AHFE showed a statistically significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), low-density lipoprotein_cholesterol (LDL_C) and MDA levels compared to the CCl4 group (P<0.05); an increase was observed in high-density lipoprotein_cholesterol (HDL_c), GSH, catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels. As a result, hollyhock plant methanolic flower extract, especially at 450 mg/kg treatment, has a therapeutic role in liver disorders associated with CCl4-induced oxidative stress because of its high phenolic content.