Panax ginseng is superior to vitamin E as a hepatoprotector against cyclophosphamide-induced liver damage. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdelfattah-Hassan, Ahmed; Shalaby, Shimaa I.; Khater, Safaa I.; El-Shetry, Eman S.; Abd El Fadil, Hosny; Elsayed, Shafika A.
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 46(2019)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Panax ginseng Meyer -- Oxazaphosphorines -- Acrolein -- Oxidative stress -- Inflammation -- Apoptosis; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.08.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Cyclophoshpamide clinical application lead to multiple non-target-organ damage. Liver-damage occurs by oxidative stress and induction of apoptosis. P. ginseng protected the liver by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. P. ginseng was more potent that vitamin E (a strong antioxidant). Abstract: Background and aims: Cyclophosphamide (CPh) is a frequently used drug, in human and animals for its immunosuppressive and anticancer potential. However, it is metabolized by the liver yielding damaging toxicants (to the liver itself and other non-target vital organs) via oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and finally necrosis. Since there is no escaping of using such harmful medications, we focused on alleviating its side-effects. Panax ginseng Meyer is a potent candidate, and we still lack adequate information on its hepatoprotective role against cyclophosphamide-induced liver-damage. Methods: Here, we used P. ginseng (Korean Red Ginseng) compared to vitamin-E (natural antioxidant) in combating CPh-induced liver damage. Forty-eight albino rats were divided into 6 groups, Control, Ginseng, Vitamin E, Cyclophosphamide (CPh), CPh + Ginseng or CPh + Vitamin-E. Blood samples were taken for biochemical analyses and liver samples were collected for histopathology, oxidative stress evaluation, and gene expression analyses. Results: In CPh group, typical CPh-liver damage was evident (higher levels of AST, ALT, ALP; lower albumin and total proteins levels; lower liver tissue concentrations of SOD, GPX and CAT and higher MDA; injured liver histopathological picture; and finally increased TNF-α, IL-1β and Caspase3 and decreased BCL-2 genes expression). All these were abolished with either P. ginseng or vitamin-E administration. However, P. ginseng was overall superior to vitamin-E, especially in restoring blood biochemical findings and damaged histopathological picture. Conclusions: Therefore, P. ginseng is a potent hepatoprotector (vitamin-E to a lesser extent) and should be considered where liver damage is expected secondary to damaging medications; as cyclophosphamide.