Hepatoprotective Effect of Camel Thorn Polyphenols in Concanavalin A-Induced Hepatitis in Mice

To explore the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Alhagi maurorum ethanolic extract (AME) in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis (CIH) as well as possible underlying mechanisms.

Polyphenols in AME were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups. Normal group received intravenous phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); Con A group received 40 mg/kg intravenous Con A. Prophylaxis group administered 300 mg/(kg·d) AME orally for 5 days before Con A intervention. Treatment group received intravenous Con A then administered 300 mg/kg AME at 30 min and 3 h after Con A intervention. After 24 h of Con A injection, hepatic injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mediators were assessed. Histopathological examination and markers of apoptosis, inflammation, and CD4⁺ cell infiltration were also investigated.

HPLC analysis revealed that AME contains abundant polyphenols with pharmacological constituents, such as ellagic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, methylgallate, and naringenin. AME alleviated Con A-induced hepatic injury, as manifested by a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase (P<0.01). Additionally, the antioxidant effect of AME was revealed by a significant reduction in oxidative stress markers (nitric oxide and malondialdehyde) and restored glutathione (P<0.01). The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-6) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity were reduced (P<0.01). Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that AME significantly ameliorated necrotic and inflammatory lesions induced by Con A (P<0.01). Moreover, AME reduced the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, pro-apoptotic protein (Bax), caspase-3, and CD4⁺ T cell hepatic infiltration (P<0.01). The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was increased (P<0.01).

AME has hepatoprotective and ameliorative effects in CIH mice. These beneficial effects are likely due to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects of the clinically important polyphenolic content. AME could be a novel and promising hepatoprotective agent for managing immune-mediated hepatitis.