Avalição do efeito protetor do (-)-alfa-bisabolol em modelo animal de hepatotoxicidade aguda

Abstract

Acute liver injury (LHA) is a condition characterized by abrupt and severe impairment of liver function. It is considered one of the most serious clinical hypotheses in patients and is commonly induced by drugs. Among the mechanisms proposed for an LHA, the production of toxic reactive metabolites, which cause oxidative stress and, consequently, death of hepatocytes, stands out. The limited therapeutic options for the treatment of patients with LHA are aimed at inducing an increase in the stocks of antioxidant molecules in the liver tissue. Thus, it is relevant to search for new hepatoprotective molecules, especially those that have antioxidant activity. The (-)-alpha-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene, monocyclic, lipophilic and low molecular weight alcohol, mainly from Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and which has many bioactivities, including nephroprotective, antioxidant and gastroprotective effects. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the hepatoprotective of (-)-alphaBisabolol in an animal model of acute liver injury. Male Swiss mice (10 animals per group) were treated (-)-alpha-Bisabolol for five consecutive days in doses of 1, 5 and 10 mL/kg. Two hours after the last administration, hepatotoxicity was induced (with the exception of the group control, which had received olive oil) via ip with CCl₄ (0.01 mL/Kg of a 0.2% solution in olive oil). Saline was used in the negative control group and silymarin, as a positive control. 24 hours after induction, blood and liver tissue were collected for analysis. Plasma activity of AST, ALT and FAL was measured, in addition to the concentration of albumin. In addition, fragments of the liver tissue were homogenized to determine the reduced glutathione concentration. In addition, the tissue was fixed in a slide, stained and submitted to histological analysis. Induction with CCl₄ was able to cause liver damage, which was observed by increasing the plasmatic activity of ALT and AST, the reduction of hepatic GSH and the observation of histological changes. Bisabolol is able to prevent an increase in aminotransferases and a reduction in GSH. In addition, a reduction in tissue damage was observed in the groups treated with the test substance. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that alpha-Bisabolol has a hepatoprotective effect. New studies can be carried out to identify the elements involved in this effect, allowing the development of new drugs and pharmacological tools.