Antioxidant, Antigenotoxic, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Rhamnus alaternus Leaf Extract Against Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Rat Model.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the curative effect of an enriched total oligomer flavonoid (TOF) extract from Rhamnus alaternus on ethanol-induced rat hepatic injury. We investigated the effects of R. alaternus in adult Wistar rats administered the drug (20 mg/kg) along with 4 g/kg of 40% ethanol. The findings noted that treatment with ethanol caused an increase in serum liver function parameters (alanine transferases, aspartate transaminase, and total bilirubin), in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), in interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a decrease in hepatic antioxidant activities, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione. In addition, it intensified histopathological changes in the liver, as revealed by mononuclear cells' infiltration and steatosis compared to control. When compared to the ethanol-alone-treated group, the rat receiving ethanol plus TOF extract exhibited significant decrease in serum liver function parameters, in TNF-α, in IL-1β in GM-CSF and MDA levels, and increased hepatic antioxidant activities. Histopathological observations confirmed the curative effect of TOF against ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. These results suggest that TOF extract from R. alaternus has hepatoprotective effect by elevating antioxidative potentials and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.