Genoprotective and hepatoprotective effects of Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart. var. sorbilis) on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats

• Published in: Drug and chemical toxicology (New York, N.Y. 1978) Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 48 - 52
• Main Authors: Kober, Helena, Tatsch, Etiane, Torbitz, Vanessa Dorneles, Cargnin, Lara Peruzzolo, Sangoi, Manuela Borges, Bochi, Guilherme Vargas, da Silva, Andreia Regina Haas, Barbisan, Fernanda, Ribeiro, Euler Esteves, Cruz, Ivana Beatrice Mânica da, Moresco, Rafael Noal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 02.01.2016
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Caffeine - administration & dosage; Caffeine - pharmacology; Carbon Tetrachloride - toxicity; DNA Damage - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Genoprotection; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Hepatocytes - pathology; liver; Liver Diseases - prevention & control; Male; medicinal plants; Paullinia cupanna; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Silymarin - pharmacology; Theobromine - administration & dosage; Theobromine - pharmacology; Theophylline - administration & dosage; Theophylline - pharmacology; Paullinia cupanna; medicinal plants; liver; Genoprotection
• ISSN: 0148-0545; 1525-6014
• DOI: 10.3109/01480545.2015.1020546

Context: Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little information is available on its effects on the liver. Objective: The current study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and genoprotective effects of powder seeds from guarana on CCl 4 -induced liver injury in rats. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were pretreated with guarana powder (100, 300 and 600 mg/kg) or silymarin 100 mg/kg daily for 14 days before treatment with a single dose of CCl 4 (50% CCl 4 , 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally). Results: The treatment with CCl 4 significantly increased the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, CCl 4 increased the DNA damage index in hepatocytes. Guarana in all concentrations was effective in decreasing the ALT and AST activities when compared with the CCl 4 -treated group. The treatment with guarana decreased DNA damage index when compared with the CCl 4 -treated group. In addition, the DNA damage index showed a significant positive correlation with AST and ALT. Discussion and conclusion: These results indicate that the guarana has hepatoprotective activity and prevents the DNA strand breakage in the CCl 4 -induced liver damage in rats.