A Borgesen Ethanol Extract Exhibits a Hepatoprotective Effect in Acute and Chronic Liver Damage Models.

One of the leading causes of death worldwide, cirrhosis, is a liver condition characterized by chronic necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatoprotective compounds, such as antioxidants, can prevent fibrosis. Macroalgae (seaweed) contain high amounts of antioxidant compounds and are plentiful; indeed, species such as Borgesen (Phaeophyceae) carpet many beaches in the Caribbean Basin. An assay was done evaluating the possible hepatoprotective effect of a ethanol extract. Two murine liver damage models were employed: acetaminophen (APAP) in Balb/c mice to induce acute damage; carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in Wistar rats to induce chronic damage. Serum liver enzyme levels and relative liver weight were measured, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of liver tissue sections were done. Both APAP and CCl significantly raised serum enzyme marker enzymes. Administration of 50 mg/kg ethanol extract reduced this APAP- and CCl-induced elevation to normal levels. This effect was corroborated by the extract's inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis in liver tissue observed in the histopathological analysis. The analyzed ethanol extract exhibited an hepatoprotective effect in acute and chronic liver injury models.