Early View e00691
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hepatoprotective Potential of Phyllanthus niruri Extracts Against CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Rats: Insight From Phytochemical Profiling, Molecular Docking, and Oxidative Stress Studies

Fatima Arshad

Fatima Arshad

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Awais Altaf

Corresponding Author

Awais Altaf

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Ali Raza Arshad

Ali Raza Arshad

Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat, Pakistan

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Muhammad Sarwar

Muhammad Sarwar

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Tahir Maqbool

Tahir Maqbool

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Asia kiran

Asia kiran

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Sara Zahid

Sara Zahid

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

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Tariq Aziz

Corresponding Author

Tariq Aziz

Department of Agriculture, Laboratory of Animal Health, Food Hygiene and Quality, University of Ioannina, Arta, Greece

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Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd

Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd

Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Ashwag Shami

Ashwag Shami

Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Fakhria A. Al-Joufi

Fakhria A. Al-Joufi

Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia

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Maher S. Alwethaynani

Maher S. Alwethaynani

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Alquwayiyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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First published: 03 June 2025

ABSTRACT

Phyllanthus niruri, a well-known medicinal plant, has been widely recognized for its hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In the present study, the hepatoprotective potential of ethanol extract of P. niruri (EPN) and hexane extract of P. niruri (HPN) were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Oral administration of both EPN and HPN extracts at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight and silymarin (50 mg/kg) was assessed for their therapeutic effect on liver function, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory biomarkers. The results demonstrated that standard drug and P. niruri extracts significantly reduced elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), oxidative stress (MDA and NO) markers, and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and TGF-β), along with remarkable restoration of antioxidants (GSH and CAT). Furthermore, histopathological outcomes suggested that the hepatic architecture of liver tissues normalized on extract treatment in comparison to the CCl4-treated group. The in silico study revealed that 1H-indole, 4-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)- and α-Amyrin from EPN extract, while phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) and Stigmast-4-en-3-one from HPN extract exhibited high binding affinities against selected proteins, TNF-α and TGF-β. These findings highlight P. niruri L. as a valuable source for the development of natural hepatoprotective drugs, as evidenced by its ability to mitigate CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats primarily by enhancing antioxidant status and stabilizing liver cell integrity.

Graphical Abstract

  • Phyllanthus niruri extracts exhibit promising hepatoprotective effects and play a significant role in the prevention and management of liver diseases.

  • Administration of CCl4 markedly increased oxidative stress (MDA, NO), liver injury markers (ALT, AST), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β) while significantly reducing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GSH, CAT), indicating severe hepatic injury and inflammation.

  • The P. niruri (EPN and HPN) extracts significantly reduce oxidative stress markers, such as MDA and NO, by enhancing antioxidant enzymes (GSH and CAT) and lower liver injury and inflammatory markers, including ALT, AST, TNF-α, and TGF-β, thereby exerting strong hepatoprotective effects.

  • GC-MS analysis was employed to identify and characterize the phytochemicals present in the plant extracts, thereby providing a comprehensive phytochemical profile.

  • In silico docking analysis predicted that selected phytochemicals 1H-Indole, 4-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-, Alpha-Amyrin (from the EPN extract), as well as Stigmast-4-en-3-one, and Phenol, 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethyl ethyl)- (from HPN extract) exhibit high binding affinities for TNF-α and TGF-β, highlighting their potential as hepatoprotective agents.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

All the data generated in this research work has been included in this manuscript.

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