Antioxidant and proapoptotic effects of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats exposed to hepatotoxic effects of carbon tetrachloride

AimsThe aim of this research was to determine the hepatoprotective effects of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) by monitoring the parameters of oxidative stress and apoptosis, and by performing the histopathological and morphometric analyses.Main methodsAnimals were divided into four groups: Group I (0.9% NaCl-10 days), Group II (bilberry extract, 75 mg/kg-10 days), Group III (0,9% NaCl-9 days, and on the tenth day CCl4–2 ml/kg), Group IV (bilberry extract, 75 mg/kg-10 days and on the tenth day CCl4–2 ml/kg).Key findingsBilberry extract led to a significant decrease in the activity of biochemical parameters in serum (AST, GGT, LDH, and ALT), the activity of pro-oxidative enzyme xanthine oxidase, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation in the liver in Group IV compared to Group III (p < 0.01). Bilberry extract resulted in a significant increase in the activity of the antioxidant markers-catalase (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.01), and the concentration of reduced glutathione (p < 0.05) in Group IV in relation to Group III. The application of bilberry extract resulted in an increase in the number of apoptotic hepatocytes and the activity of caspase-3 in the liver tissue (p < 0.01). The reduction of coagulation necrotic areas was proved (p < 0.001) as well as the number of macrovesicular hepatocytes (p < 0.01), along with an increased mitotic activity (p < 0.01) in Group IV compared to Group III.SignificanceAnthocyanins from bilberry extract have strong antioxidant properties and therefore can be considered as powerful hepatoprotectives in natural products.