HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ALPHA-MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE (α-MSH) AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE (CCL₄) INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

MANSI K.M.S.¹*
¹Department of Biological Sciences, Al al-Bayt University, Al-Mafraq, Jordan.
* Corresponding Author : mansikamal@hotmail.com

Received : 15-11-2013     Accepted : 01-03-2014     Published : 12-04-2014
Volume : 5     Issue : 1       Pages : 36 - 41
Int J Pharmaceut Anal 5.1 (2014):36-41
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.9735/0975-3079.5.1.36-41

Keywords : hepatoprotectiv, hepatotoxicity, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), Alpha-melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH)
Conflict of Interest : None declared

This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Alpha-melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) against Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats in vivo. Sixty male Wister rats weighing 160-190 g respectively were used for the study and were divided into four groups, with 15 animals in each group. Group I consisted of nonhepatotoxic rats that received only the vehicle (0.5 mL/kg body weight) and served as a control group. Group II, the animals were injected intramuscularly with hormone α-MSH (sigma formula) 2mg/100g of body mass every alternate day for 15 days. Group III administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 2 ml/kg body weight) rally every alternate day for 15 days to produce the hepatotoxity in rats. Groups IV (treated hepatotoxic group), the animals were administered CCl4; 2 ml/kg body weight and treated with hormone α-MSH (sigma formula) 2mg/100g of body mass every alternate day for 15 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and blood was collected directly. Serum was separated after and analyzed for various biochemical parameters, i.e. Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), total and direct bilirubin, total protein and albumin. Our results showed that the administration of 2 ml/kg body weight of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) every alternate day for 15 days has enhanced the ALT, AST, ALP, total and direct bilirubin and liver weight, and reduced the total protein and albumin in comparison with the control group. The treatment with hormone α-MSH (sigma formula) 2mg/100g of body mass has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels. In our study, we observed that there is a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the concentration of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in HDL cholesterol in the hepatotoxic rats. Also we investigated some hematological parameters and It was found that the RBC and WBC count, PCV, Hb, ESR, neutrophil percentage and lymphocyte percentage were significant decreased (P <0.05) in the hepatotoxic rats and the treatment with alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) cased significant increasing in these hematological parameters. It was concluded from the result that the hormone α-MSH possesses hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats.

[1] Meyer S.A. and Kulkarni A.P. (2001) Introduction to Biochemi-cal Toxicology, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 48.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[2] Vinothapooshan G. and Sundar K. (2010) Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences, 1(4), 606-614.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[3] Smuckler E.A. (1975) Federation Proceedings, 34(11), 2038-2044.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[4] Masuda Y. (2006) Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 126(10), 885-899.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[5] Taniguchi M., Takeuchi T., Nakatsuka R., Watanabe T., Sato K. (2004) Life Sci., 75, 1539-1549.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[6] Basu S. (2011) Studies on Experimental Models, Humana Press, Totowa, 467-480.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[7] Yoneyama H., Kai Y., Koyama J., Suzuki K., Kawachi H., Narumi S., Ichida T. (2007) Med. Mol. Morphol., 40, 191-197.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[8] Bhattacharyya D., Mukherjee R., Majumdar B., Pandit S., Debnath P.K., Sharma P. and Sur T.K. (2002 ) Proc. 89th Ind. Sc. Cong., III, 8-9.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[9] WHO (1993) Research guidelines for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, Regional Office for Western Pacif-ic, 12-15.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[10] Kumar C.H., Ramesh A., Kumar J.S. and Ishaq B.M. (2011) International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Re-search, 2(3), 501-515.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[11] Alshawsh M.A., Abdulla M.A., Ismail S. and Amin Z.A. (2011)Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 103039.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[12] Dhanaraj T.S., Gowthami R., Rajlakshmi S. and Murugaiah K. (2012) Asian J. Res. Pharm. Sci., 2(4), 140-142.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[13] Chin J.H., Hussin A.H. and Ismail S. (2009) Pharmacognosy Research, 1(2), 53-58.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[14] Aliyu R., Okoye Z.S.C. and Shier W.T. (1995) Journal of Eth-nopharmacology, 48(2), 89-97.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[15] Yan F., Zhang Q.Y., Jiao L., Han T., Zhang H., Qin L.P. and Khalid R. (2009) Phytomedicine, 16(9), 805-813.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[16] Qureshi N.N., Kuchekar B.S., Logade N.A. and Haleem M.A. (2009) Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 17(4), 299-302.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[17] Zhou D., Ruan J., Cai Y., Xiong Z., Fu W. and Wei A. (2010)Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 129(2), 232-237.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[18] Jain A., Soni M., Deb L., Jain A., Rout S.P., Gupta V.B. and Krishna K.L. (2008) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 115(1), 61-66.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[19] Taylor A.W., Streilein J.W. and Cousins S.W. (1994) Neuroim-munomodulation, 1(3), 188-194.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[20] Luger T.A., Scholzen T. and Grabbe S. (1997) Journal of Inves-tigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings, 2(1), 87-93.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[21] Mugridge K.G., Perretti M., Ghiara P. and Parente L. (1991)Euro. J. Pharmacol., 4, 151-155.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[22] Sarkar A., Sreenivasan Y. and Manna S.K. (2003) FEBS Let-ters, 553(3), 286-294.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[23] Rajora N., Boccoli G., Burns D., Sharma S., Catania A.P. and Lipton J.M. (1997) The Journal of Neuroscience, 17(6), 2181-2186.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[24] Rajora N., Boccoli G., Burns D., Sharma S., Catania A.P. and Lipton J.M. (1997) The Journal of Neuroscience, 17(6), 2181-2186.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[25] Rajora N., Boccoli G., Burns D., Sharma S., Catania A.P. and Lipton J.M. (1997) The Journal of Neuroscience, 17(6), 2181-2186.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[26] Luger T.A., Scholzen T., Brzoska T., Becher E., Slominski A. and Paus R. (1998) Annals of the New York Academy of Sci-ences, 840(1), 381-394.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[27] Eves P., Haycock J., Layton C., Wagner M., Kemp H., Szabo M., Morandini R., Ghanem G., García-Borrón J.C., Jiménez-Cervantes C. and Mac Neil S. (2003) British Journal of Cancer, 89(10), 2004-2015.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[28] Leiba H., Garty N.B., Schmidt-Sole J., Piterman O., Azrad A. and Salomon Y. (1990) European Journal of Pharmacology, 181(1), 71-82.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[29] Miller R., Aaron W., Toneff T., Vishnuvardhan D., Beinfeld M.C. and Hook V.Y. (2003) Journal of Neurochemistry, 86(3), 556-563.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[30] Sunilson J., Jayaraj P., Mohan M.S., Kumari A. and Varatha-rajan R. (2008) International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 2(4), 200-203.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[31] Johnston D.E. and Kroening C. (1998) Pharmacology & Toxicol-ogy, 83(6), 231-239.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[32] Chenoweth M.B. and Hake C.L. (1962) Annual Review of Phar-macology, 2(1), 363-398.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[33] Hodgson E. (2004) A Textbook of Modern Toxicology, 3rd ed., John Wiley and Sons Inc., New Jersey, 203-221.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[34] Dhawal K., Deshpande Y.S., Purohit A.P. and Kadam S.S. (2005) Pharm. Biol., 43(9), 754-761.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[35] Adesanoye O.A. and Farombi E.O. (2010) Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, 62(2), 197-206.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[36] Ayoola G.A., Coker H.A.B., Adesegun S.A., Adepoju-Bello A.A., Obaweva K., Ezennia E.C. and Atangbayila T.O. (2008) Trop. J Pharm. Res., 7, 1019-1024.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[37] Bandyopadhyay U., Das D. and Banerjee R.K. (1999) Current Science, 77(5), 658-666.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[38] Kuriakose G.C. and Kurup M.G. (2010) Asian J. Exp. Biol. Sci., 1(3), 614-623.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[39] Devi B.P., Boominathan R. and Mandal S.C. (2003) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87(1), 11-13.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[40] Schrier S.L., Mentzer W.C. and Landaw S.A. (2012) Approach to the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia in the adult.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[41] Cazzola M. and Beguin Y. (1992) British Journal of Haematolo-gy, 80(3), 278-284.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[42] Bossi D. and Giardina B. (1996) Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 17(2), 117-128.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[43] Omine M. (2008) Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine, 66(3), 433-438.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[44] Gitlin N. (1997) The Liver and Systemic Disease, Churchill Liv-ingstone, New York, NY, USA.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[45] Singh M.M. and Pockros P.J. (2011) Clinics in Liver Disease, 15(1), 69-87.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[46] Kennedy L. and Baynes J.W. (1984) Diabetologia, 26(2), 93-98.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[47] Meral I., Yener Z., Kahraman T. and Mert N. (2001) Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 48(10), 593-599.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus  

[48] Ganong W. (1991) Review of Medical Physiology, 15th ed., Lange Medical Publications, Connecticut, USA.  
» CrossRef   » Google Scholar   » PubMed   » DOAJ   » CAS   » Scopus