The study about hepatoprotective activity of chicory extract (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract

Introduction. Nowadays hepatobiliary disorders are widespread throughout the world and affect more than 2 billion people. They often lead to serious complications and death, and thus significant economic losses [4].

Therefore, the search and development of new effective drugs for the treatment of this pathology is an important task of pharmacy and pharmacology. Recently drugs that protect liver cells, namely hepatoprotectors, become increasingly popular. Hepatoprotectors’ action is aimed at restoring homeostasis in the liver, normalizing its functional activity and stimulation of  regeneration processes.

There is a lack of drugs obtained from plants which are produced in Ukraineand could be used in the treatment of liver diseases. This necessitates the search of new low-toxic and effective herbal drugs. The perspective plant from this point of view is chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), which is characterized by a high content of biologically active substances [2,7].

The aim of research was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of the chicory extract and its effects on morphology and functional activity of the liver by using the rat model of chronic tetrachlormethane-induced hepatic injury.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was an extract of chicory roots obtained by using 50% ethanol and made by repercolation method. Content of hydroxycinnamic acids calculated as chlorogenic acid was 0,0242 ± 0,0005%. Experimental studies were performed on 18 adult albino male rats weighing 180 ±20 g.

Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups each consisted of 6 rats. The first group is intact animals. The second group of animals was administered daily intragastrically  50% ethanol (0,15 ml / kg) throughout the experimental period. In the third, fourth, fifth and sixth groups of animals chronic liver injury was induced by repeated intragastric administration of 20% CCl₄ solution in olive oil (2 ml/kg b.wt.) two times a week for 30 days. Besides this fourth group of animals received daily intragastrically 50% ethanol (0,15 ml / kg), the fifth group - chicory extract daily intragastrically (150 mg / kg b.wt.), sixth group - silibor daily intragastrically (150 mg / kg b.wt).

Results. In the group of rats receiving CCl₄ and chicory extract liver morphology and serum enzymatic activity had a tendency to improve. In particular, ALT increased only 2,3 times (p < 0,0002) compared with the second group, AST – 1,6 times (p < 0,0008). These levels of enzyme activity were lower than in the fourth group of animals: ALT – 2,3 times (p < 0,004), AST – 1,3 times (p <0,027), AP - в 1,3 times (р<0,028). Morphologic signs of tissue injury in the fifth group were less prominent than in the fourth group. The described changes indicate hepatoprotective effect of the drug.

Conclusions. The results showed that the investigated chicory extract has hepatoprotective effect in rats with chronic CCl₄ – induced liver injury, manifested by decreased serum AST, ALT, AP activity and lower degree of liver damage. According to its hepatoprotective activity the extract of chicory was not inferior to silibor.

Thus, the water-alcohol extract of chicory is a promising agent for further study to develop a drug with hepatoprotective properties.