The Influence of an Extract from the Marine Brown Alga Sargassum pallidum on the Metabolic Reactions in the Liver under Experimental Toxic Hepatitis

Abstract

This study explores the influence of an extract enriched with polyphenol substances obtained from the brown alga Sargassum pallidum and the effect of the Legalon commercial reference preparation on the biochemical indices of the blood at acute hepatic injury induced in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CTC). Administration of S. pallidum extract exhibited a pronounced antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect revealed in reduction of alanine aminotransferase (AlAT) activity in blood plasm, in normalization of superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione contents, of the level of lipid peroxidation, and the liver antiradical activity. We observed recovery of lipid metabolism and elimination of liver fatty infiltration. The S. pallidum extract was as effective as the reference Legalon hepatoprotector and even surpassed it in its ability to restore the phospholipid metabolism. In our opinion, this hepatoprotective effect of S. pallidum extract is associated with the action of polyphenols contained in brown algae, that is, phlorotannins, which are highly active antioxidants and restore the liver metabolic reactions after toxic hepatic injury with CTC.