Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of lyophilized extract of acerola bagasse against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

The current study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of the lyophilized extract of acerola bagasse (EAB), which is a residue from the processing of the fruit (rich in phenolic compounds), against the toxic action of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Wistar rats. The rats were divided into six groups of six animals and received the treatments by gavage once a day, for 21 days. The treatments with EAB containing 7 and 14 mg of phenolic compounds/kg animal weight (AW) presented a decrease in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase, and an increase in superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity and albumin content in relation to treatment with water and CCl4. It is concluded that the EAB has antioxidant and hepatoprotective action, at doses of 7 and 14 mg of phenolic compounds/kg AW, with possible applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries.