Category: SDGs

The liver is the primary organ of ethanol metabolism. Chronic alcohol consumption results in alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD). In ALD, the altered capacity of hepatocytes to cope with environmental toxins, and their altered oxidation reduction potential result in liver injury. The hallmarks of ALD are steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and more severe forms including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Oxidative stress and inflammation are critical factors in etiology of ethanol-induced liver damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the progression from hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Thunbergia laurifolia has long been described in Thai Traditional Medicine. Numerous studies have reported its various pharmacological effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. It has been shown to exert hepatoprotective activity against ethanol-induced liver injury in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes and in rats. However, the mechanisms involved in these effects are still unknown. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of T.laurifolia aqueous leaf extract against alcoholic liver injury in male Wistar rats, and the underlying mechanism.