Antioxidant and hepato-preventive effect of Citrus aurantium extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and characterisation of its bioactive compounds by HPLC-MS

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the preventive effects of ethyl acetate fraction from Citrus aurantium leaf extract (EACA), associated with its phytochemical content, against the toxic impacts of acute exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in the liver of adult rats. HPLC analysis of ethyl acetate fraction from extract C. aurantium revealed eight compounds. Administration of a single dose of CCl₄ caused hepatoxicity as monitored by an increase in lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and in protein carbonyl level but a decrease in antioxidant markers in the liver tissue. The pre-treatment with EACA; significantly prevented the increased plasma levels of hepatic markers and lipid levels induced by CCl₄ in rats. Furthermore, this fraction ameliorated biochemical and histological parameters as compared to CCl₄-treated group. Our results suggest that C. aurantium contains promising substances to counteract the CCl₄ intoxication and can be efficient in the prevention of hepatotoxicity complications.

Keywords:

• Carbon tetrachloride; Citrus aurantium
• extract fractionation
• hepato-preventive
• HPLC-MS
• oxidative stress
• phytochemical
• rats

Acknowledgements

The present work was supported by DGRST grant (Direction Generale de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique-Tunisie). The authors are grateful to Prof. N. KhedImi, ESP English teacher (Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa) for proofreading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.