Protective effects of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed oil against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The present study examined the protective effects of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., SBT) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in male ICR mice. Our results showed that oral administration of SBT seed oil at doses of 0.26, 1.30, and 2.60 mg/kg for 8 weeks significantly reduced the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol at least 13% in serum, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver at least 22%, that was induced by CCl4 (1 mL/kg) in mice. Moreover, the treatment of SBT seed oil was also found to significantly increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd), and GSH content in liver up to 134%. Our study found that the optimal dose of SBT seed oil was 0.26 mg/kg, as the minimum amount exhibiting the greatest hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver injury. Overall, the hepatoprotective effect of SBT seed oil at all tested doses was found to be comparable to that of silymarin (200 mg/kg) and have been supported by the evaluation of the liver histopathology in mice. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.