Hepatoprotective Effects of Different Extracts From Triphala Against CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

• Published in: Frontiers in pharmacology Vol. 12; p. 664607
• Main Authors: Wei, Xichuan, Luo, Chuanhong, He, Yanan, Huang, Haozhou, Ran, Fei, Liao, Wei, Tan, Peng, Fan, Sanhu, Cheng, Yuan, Zhang, Dingkun, Lin, Junzhi, Han, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 05.07.2021
• Subjects: bioactivity consistency; CCl4-induced acute liver injury; extraction process; hepatoprotective effects; Nrf-2 signaling pathway; Pharmacology; Triphala
• ISSN: 1663-9812; 1663-9812
• DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.664607

Background: Triphala is a traditional polyherbal formula used in Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese Tibetan medicine. A wide range of biological activities have been attributed to Triphala , but the impact of various extraction methods on efficacy has not been determined. Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate Triphala extracts obtained by various methods for their hepatoprotective effects and molecular mechanisms in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver injury. Methods: HPLC fingerprinting was used to characterize the chemical characteristics of Triphala extracts obtained by (a) 0.5 h ultrasonication, (b) 2 h reflux, and (c) 4 h reflux. Hepatoprotective efficacy was evaluated in a mouse model of CCl 4 -induced liver damage. Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured, as well as the liver antioxidant and inflammatory markers malondialdehyde superoxide dismutase glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), TNF-α, and IL-6. Gene and protein expression of Nrf-2 signaling components Nrf-2, heme oxygenase (HO-1), and NADPH Quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1) in liver tissue were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blotting. Results: Chemical analysis showed a clear difference in content between extracts produced by ultrasonic and reflux methods. The pharmacological analysis showed that all three Triphala extracts reduced ALT, AST, MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and increased SOD and GSH-Px. Triphala extracts also induced transcript and protein expression of Nrf-2, HO-1, and NQO-1. Conclusion: Triphala extract prevents CCl 4 -induced acute liver injury. The ultrasonic extract of Triphala was most effective, suggesting that hepatoprotection may be related to the larger tannins via activation of Nrf-2 signaling.