The protective effect of gallic acid and caffeine against CCL4-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity and mitochondrial DNA depletion in male albino rats

This work was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effects of gallic acid and caffeine against carbon tetrachloride CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced by i.p injection of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg body weight) once only. Gallic acid, caffeine were administered in a dose of 1 g/kg diet for each. Carbon tetrachloride treatment resulted in a significant rise in alanine transaminase (ALT) ; aspartate transaminase (AST); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) , hepatic lipid peroxidation products measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), with a significant reduction in hepatic Catalase activity (CAT) and serum total antioxidant capacity , together with a highly observed depletion in hepatic mtDNA content .Gallic acid and caffeine were evaluated for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities as judged from altering serum liver functions enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, hepatic antioxidant activities and mtDNA content near normal levels against CCl4 treated rats. In conclusion: The current results suggest that, gallic acid and caffeine had a strong hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity, both had the ability to protect mtDNA against depletion