Mohammad Mahathir, Richi Fahmida Tasnim, Hossain Rabiul, Arafat Md, Jiko Pair Ahmed, Emon Nazim Uddin, Rabbi Sayed Al Hossain, Khastagir Tirtha, Hossain Md Hemayet, Alam Safaet
Department of Chemistry, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Animal Model Exp Med. 2025 Jul;8(7):1166-1185. doi: 10.1002/ame2.70031. Epub 2025 May 28.
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, known as the taro vegetable, possesses various beneficial effects and is traditionally used in folk medicine. This study explores the ameliorative antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of a methanolic extract of the C. esculenta flower (ME-CEF) against oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity in mice.
The antioxidant efficacy of ME-CEF was assessed using 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The hepatoprotective effect was investigated by an assessment of liver injury indicators (amino transferase [ALT], aspartate amino transferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], bilirubin, creatinine) and normalizing lipid profiles (cholesterol [CHO], triglyceride [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and low-density lipoprotein [LDL]) along with histopathological study and antioxidant enzymes (CAT). A phytochemical analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, was conducted, including gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis and an in silico molecular docking study.
The Result Showed that ME-CEF Possesses Moderate ABTS and DPPH Scavenging Activity with IC Values of 117.18 and 160.41 μg/mL. As Illustrated by Reducing Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, Bilirubin, Creatinine) and Lipid Profile (CHO, TG, LDL) and Raising HDL Levels (p < 0.01), ME-CEF Dose Dependently Mitigated CCl-Induced Acute Liver Injury. Furthermore, ME-CEF Blocked Hepatic Oxidative Stress by Boosting Antioxidant Enzymes (CAT) and Preventing Liver Tissue Damage and Apoptosis. In Silico Investigations Also Showed a Promising Binding Affinity with Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), PRAP-1, and Xanthin Oxidoreductase, which Displayed Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Candidacy while Notable Safety and Efficacy Profile Was Also Documented through ADME/T Studies. Histopathological Analysis Showed Reduced Hepatocellular Necrosis and Vascular Congestion in Silymarin and Extract Groups.
Based on these results, our findings strongly recommend the medicinal use of the plant, highlighting its antioxidant and hepatoprotective potentials.
芋（Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott），即芋头蔬菜，具有多种有益功效，传统上用于民间医学。本研究探讨芋花甲醇提取物（ME - CEF）对小鼠氧化损伤和肝毒性的改善抗氧化及保肝作用。
使用2,2'-联氮-双-(3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸)（ABTS）和2,2-二苯基-1-苦基肼（DPPH）清除试验评估ME - CEF的抗氧化功效。通过评估肝损伤指标（氨基转移酶[ALT]、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶[AST]、碱性磷酸酶[ALP]、胆红素、肌酐）以及使血脂谱（胆固醇[CHO]、甘油三酯[TG]、高密度脂蛋白[HDL]和低密度脂蛋白[LDL]）正常化，同时进行组织病理学研究和抗氧化酶（CAT）检测来研究保肝作用。进行了定性和定量的植物化学分析，包括气相色谱 - 串联质谱（GC - MS/MS）分析和计算机模拟分子对接研究。
结果表明ME - CEF具有中等的ABTS和DPPH清除活性，IC值分别为117.18和160.41μg/mL。如降低肝酶（ALT、AST、ALP、胆红素、肌酐）和血脂谱（CHO、TG、LDL）以及提高HDL水平所示（p < 0.01），ME - CEF剂量依赖性地减轻了CCl诱导的急性肝损伤。此外，ME - CEF通过增强抗氧化酶（CAT）和防止肝组织损伤及细胞凋亡来阻断肝氧化应激。计算机模拟研究还显示与肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF - α）、白细胞介素6（IL - 6）、PRAP - 1和黄嘌呤氧化还原酶有良好的结合亲和力，这些显示出抗氧化和保肝候选特性，同时通过ADME/T研究也记录了显著的安全性和有效性概况。组织病理学分析显示水飞蓟宾组和提取物组肝细胞坏死和血管充血减少。
基于这些结果，我们的发现强烈推荐该植物的药用价值，突出其抗氧化和保肝潜力。
