Biochemical studies on the protective role of Barnebydendron riedelii on thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a decline in brain functions resulting from severe liver diseases. It is a neuropsychiatric syndrome developed as a consequence of liver ineffectuality and includes a broad spectrum of neurological disorders extending from subclinical changes to coma. A combination of distinct pathophysiological mechanisms contributes to HE incidence such as neurotoxins, inflammation, brain energy metabolism impairment, oxidative stress (OS), impaired blood brain barrier permeability and accumulation of bile acids. Ammonia is the leading neurotoxin related to HE pathogenesis and contributes to astrocyte swelling. Medicinal plants have been used for long time in treating many diseases to avoid the side effects of synthetic drugs. In the course of searching for novel hepato-neuroprotective agents from medicinal plants, the possible protective effect of the butanol fraction (BUF) derived from the total methanolic leaf extract of Barnebydendron riedelii (Family, Fabaceae) against behavioral, biochemical, molecular and pathological alterations in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HE in rats was investigated. Furthermore, lactulose (LAC); a standard hypoammonemic drug, has been used as a reference drug. The preliminary phytochemical screening of B. riedelii leaves indicated the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, carbohydrates and tannins. The dried total methanolic leaf extract of B. riedelii was dissolved in distilled water and the aqueous solution was successively extracted with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate then water-saturated n-butanol. The material from the n-butanol fraction was chromatographed