Protective Effects of Calpurnia aurea Seed Extract on HAART Hepatotoxicity

Aim: The effect of hydroethanolic seed extract of Calpurnia aurea was evaluated against HAART induced free radical reactions in liver and liver cell damage in Wistar male albino rats.

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-correlated hepatotoxicity make difficult the management of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), raise medical costs, changes the prescription prototypes, and affects the principle recommendations.

Materials and Methods: Matured dried seed of Calpurnia aurea were collected, powdered and extracted using 70% ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening and in-vitro antioxidant properties of the extract were carried out. Thirty rats of same age and 140-200 g weight were selected and divided into five groups containing six each. The HAART and different doses of the Calpurnia aurea seed extract (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) administered orally for 35 days. At the end of the experiment day the rats were fasted overnight. Then blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical studies and there after sacrificed by cervical dislocation and liver was excised from the rats for histopathological studies. The hepatoprotective effects of the seed extract against HAART liver toxicity in rats were evaluated by monitoring the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amino transferases (AST, ALT), and histopathological analysis. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the seed extract against HAART induced alteration in rats liver antioxidant profile were evaluated by monitoring the levels of SOD, CAT, GHS, MAD and TAC analysis.

Results: Increased free radical reactions, ALP, amino transferases release and decreased antioxidant profiles were detected in HAART treated rats. The rats treated with the extract (300 mg/kg) reduce the HAART induced liver toxicity but minimum dose of extract (100 mg/kg) did not show any significant change against HAART altered parameters.

Conclusion: This study suggests that the Calpurnia aurea seed extract have hepatoprotective potential, thereby justifying their ethnopharmacological uses.