Pharmacological Characterization of Digera muricata Ethanolic Extract in a Rodent Model of Hepatotoxicity.

Abstract

Introduction/objective: Digera muricata (DM) contains phenolic compounds and quercetin and β-caryophyllene, which exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. The present study was conducted with the objective of examining the hepatoprotective role of DM ethanolic extract in a hepatotoxic model of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into the following groups: Normal Control (NC); hepatotoxic disease control (DC); hepatotoxic group treated with a low dose (LD) of DM (LDDM-INH+RIF); hepatotoxic group treated with a high dose (HD) of DM (HDDMINH+RIF), and reference control (RC) standard drug silymarin for 21 days. The hepatoprotective action was explored by measuring various liver function enzymes and lipid profiles. Oxidative stress parameters were investigated by their concentrations in the plasma and liver tissue of all study groups.

Results: Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of DM extract were 69.48 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents per gram (GAE/g) and 49.59 mg Catechin Equivalents per gram (CE/g), respectively. Gallic acid (6.89 mg/g) and rutin (24.78 mg/g) were identified as the predominant phenolic compounds. The extract exhibited 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 179 µg/mL compared to 20.65 µg/mL for BHT.

Discussion: Treatment with DM significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum cholesterol, total protein, and triglyceride levels in LDDM-INH+RIF and HDDM-INH+RIF groups relative to hepatotoxic control. Similarly, plasma liver function enzymes were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant analysis indicated a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), accompanied by a significant decline in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both plasma and liver tissues compared with the disease control group.

Conclusion: DM exhibited significant hepatoprotective effects in isoniazid- and rifampicininduced hepatotoxic rats, primarily through its antioxidant activity. The extract enhanced hepatic and plasma antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH) while reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA). It also normalized liver function markers, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, consistent with histopathological improvements. These protective effects are attributed to the phenolic and flavonoid constituents of the extract.