Protective Effects of Cinnamon, Cinnamaldehyde and Kaempferol
against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury and Apoptosis in
Mouse Model
Zulfia Hussain1,*, Junaid Ali Khan1, M. Imran
Arshad2, Faqir Muhammad1 and Rao Zahid Abbas3
1Institute
of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
2Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
3Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
zulfia60@gmail.com
Abstract
Liver diseases are among the major health problems in Pakistan. The present
study investigated the mechanism of hepatoprotection by cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde
and kaempferol in Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. Qualitative
phytochemical analysis was performed for standardization of cinnamon ethanolic
extract. For in-vivo evaluation, Balb/c
mice were administered with cinnamon extract (200 mg/kg i.g.),
cinnamaldehyde (10 mg/kg) and
kaempferol (10 mg/kg) for 14 days
followed by administration of APAP (200 mg/kg i.p.). At the end of trial, mice
were dissected and blood, liver and spleen samples were collected for
biochemical, histopathological and apoptotic genes expression analysis.
Statistical analysis was performed for significance of results.
The results showed that the
hepatic damage due to APAP administration for 8 hours in mice was apparent with
increased severity. Cinnamon extract, cinnamaldehyde and kaempferol
pre-treatment suggested ameliorative effects on organ injury induced by APAP by
decreasing the elevated serum biochemical activity, total proteins and total
bilirubin levels. In addition, APAP exerted severe alteration in liver
histopathology without affecting spleen histology along with upregulation of
Bad, Bax and Caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl-2. However, cinnamon,
cinnamaldehyde and kaempferol pre-treatment ameliorated APAP-induced liver
alterations and apoptosis, possibly through their antioxidant activity. In
addition, cinnamaldehyde and kaempferol possessed comparable protective
potential at 20-times less dose as compared to cinnamon extract alone,
suggesting therapeutic potential at lower dose in APAP-induced liver injury and
apoptosis.
To Cite This Article:
Hussain Z, Khan JA, Arshad MI, Muhammad F and Abbas RZ, 2020.
Protective effects of cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde and kaempferol against
acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury and apoptosis in mouse model.
Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2020.090