Investigation of the hepatoprotective and antioxidant role of lyophilized extract of hawthorn (Crataegus orientalis) fruit in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative stress and liver damage.

In this study, the hepatoprotective and antioxidant role of different doses of Lyophilized Extract of Hawthorn (Crataegus orientalis) (C. orientalis) Fruit against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCI4) Induced Oxidative Stress and Liver Damage was investigated. After 21 days of treatment: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum enzyme levels, lipid profile [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC)], creatinine (CRE) and urea levels were determined as an indicator of hepatoprotective effects of C. orientalis. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the Lyophilized Extract of Hawthorn (C. orientalis) Fruit was evaluated by determination of such paraoxonase (PON1), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the erythrocyte, brain, kidney and liver tissue samples. According to the results obtained, AST, ALT and LDH values were significantly (p≤0.05) higher in CCl4 group compared to normal control, however, these parameters were significantly (p≤0.05) lower in extract supplemented groups compared to CCl4 group. Wheares MDA content of CCl4 groups increased significantly in all tissues compared to normal control group (p≤0.05), it was recorded that extract supplemented diet restored most of the parameters towards the normal control values with fluctuations in the antioxidant defence constituents (ADCs). As a result; It is thought that hawthorn fruit extract may have antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects against the complications of liver damage. Keywords: Antioxidant, Carbon tetrachloride, Crataegus orientalis, Hepatoprotective, Rat