Protective effects of Dunaliella salina - A carotenoids-rich alga, against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The protective effects of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Male ICR mice were orally treated with D. salina or silymairn daily with administration of CCl4 twice a week for 8 weeks. CCl4 induced liver damage and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and GSH content in liver whereas increased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content as compared with control group. Treatment with D. salina or silymarin could significantly (p < 0.05) decrease the ALT, AST, and ALP levels in serum and increase the activities of SOD, catalase, GSH-Px, glutathione reductase, and GSH content and decrease the MDA content in liver when compared with CCl4-treated group. Liver histopathology also showed that D. salina reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by CCl4. The results suggest that D. salina exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver damages in mice, and that the hepatoprotective effects of D. salina may be due to both the increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.