Hydroalcoholic Extract of Iranian Caper Leaves Protects Hepatic Toxicity by Suppressing Oxidative Stress in Mice

Abstract

Capparis spinosa L. (caper) is an aromatic plant, commonly used in the Mediterranean diet, possessing numerous antioxidant compounds, such as phenols, rutin, tocopherols, carotenoids, and vitamin C in its leaves. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of Iranian caper leaves extract on oxidative stress caused by CCl4 in the mice’s liver. This study was conducted on 42 male mice in seven groups. The control group, the sham group, the CCl4 group, the Iranian caper leaves extract 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg + CCl4 groups. Then, Biochemicals, oxidative stress, and hepatic histopathology parameters were evaluated. The co-administration of Iranian caper leaves extract, and CCl4 significantly decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde (P<0.001) and significantly increased the levels of glutathione and catalase in comparison with the group treated with CCl4 alone (P<0.01).
Furthermore, Iranian caper leaves extract improved histopathological changes such as the the inflammation and necrosis of hepatocytes. Iranian caper leaves extract has protective effects on hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4, mainly through suppressing oxidative stress.