Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Licorice Root ( Radix glycyrrhizae ) Extract against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Isolated Rat Hepatocytes

Radix glycyrrhizae is one of the native Mediterranean plants. Licorice root is a popular soft drink in Egypt. Literatures cited therapeutic effects of licorice. The present work is to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective effects of aqueous licorice root extract against the cytotoxic effects and the oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in isolated primary rat hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion technique. Cytotoxicity was determined by assessing cell viability and leakage of cytosolic enzymes, such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Oxidative stress was assessed by determining reduced glutathione (GSH) level and lipid peroxidation as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) production. Exposure of isolated rat hepatocytes to CCl4 (5mM) caused cytotoxicity and oxidative injury, manifested by loss of cell viability and significant increase in LDH, ALT and AST leakages. As well as, CCl4 caused progressive depletion of intracellular GSH content and significant enhancement of TBARS accumulation. Preincubation of hepatocytes with either licorice (25 μM/ml) or silymarin (0.5mM) which is a known hepatoprotective agent, ameliorated the hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by CCl4, as indicated by significant improvement in cell viability, significant decrease in LDH , ALT and AST leakages, significant prevention of GSH depletion and significant decrease in TBARS formation as compared to CCl4 alone-treated cells. The present results indicate that CCl4 has a potential cytotoxic effect in isolated rat hepatocytes; and licorice extract possess a highly promising hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. [El-Tawil, Osama S.; Shalaby , Abeir A. and Mohamed, Eman A. Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Licorice Root (Radix Glycyrrhizae) Extract against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Isolated Rat Hepatocytes. Life Sci J 2013; 10(4): 1862-1871]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 246