Research on the effects of the Juncus inflexus subsp. inflexus extract on the liver damage caused by low dose thioacetamide at the rats

Abstract This study investigated the effects of thioacetimide (TAA) on liver damage by using the extract of the Juncus inflexus subsp. inflexus (JI) plant. Six experimental groups were formed using 42 8-12-weeks Sprague dawley male rats, with seven experimental animals per group. Two doses of normal saline (SF) (i.p) were administered within 120 minutes to each control group. 250 mg/kg single dose of TAA (i.p) was administered 120 minutes after administration of SF in the TAA group. 50 mg/kg single dose of JI extract (i.g) was administered 120 minutes after SF administration to the JI group. TAA+JI group was given 50 mg/kg JI extract 120 minutes after 250 mg/kg TAA was administered. 250 mg/kg of TAA was administered 120 minutes after 50 mg/kg of JI extract was applied to the JI+TAA group. TAA+JI+ group was administered 50 mg/kg JI extract 120 minutes after 250 mg/kg TAA was administered and 2 more 50 mg/kg JI extract were administered after 48 hours. At the end of the trial, blood samples were analyzed for aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with autoanalyser. Liver tissue sections were examined by staining with hematoxylin eosin (H-E), periodic acid schiff (PAS) and caspase-3. On the other hand, the tissue homogenates were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH).In H-E and PAS studies, while a marked damage was detected in TAA group compared to other groups, based on biochemical analysis, only a significant change in parameter AST was determined. Compared to other groups, it was observed that the MDA rose significantly in the TAA group and that the GSH fell and that the expression of the kaspaz-3 was significantly increased.. On the other hand, it was found that lipid peroxidation decreased significantly in the TAA+JI group compared to JI+TAA group.In conclusion, this study has revealed that the extraction obtained from the Juncus inflexus plant has protective and therapeutic properties for the liver.