Caffeine metabolite as a biomarker in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Caffeine Metabolite as a Biomarker in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Liver injury is a form of trauma, also known as liver laceration, which represents 5% of all traumas of the abdomen. Caffeine, which is metabolized mainly in the liver, is a widely consumed stimulant that exists in many commonly consumed beverages. Glycyrrhizin (GZ) and boswellic acids (BA) are naturally occurring compounds and isolated from licorice and Olibanum gum, respectively. They proved to have both hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory activities and present potential drugs for liver disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of GZ and BA on hepatic intoxication in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and to investigate whether caffeine metabolites concentrations in serum can be used as biomarkers for liver function. Rats treated with CCl₄ showed a significant increase in the average of all liver enzymes levels in serum in comparison with those in the control group which received only caffeine. On the other hand, rats treated with CCl₄ and receiving BA and BA + GZ showed a slight reduction in enzymes levels. Theobromine concentration in rats’ sera which received CCl₄ was significantly lower in comparison to the non-treated rats. Caffeine/theobromine (C/T) ratio could be accurately used as a biomarker for liver injury and/or early fibrosis without any interactions of false positive common liver function tests. Also, these results confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of both pentacyclic triterpenes, GZ and BA, tested in this model.