Hepatoprotective Activity of Pine cones Extract

Introduction. Fatty hepatosis is a widespread metabolic disease. There is an annual increase in cases of detection of fatty hepatosis both in Russia and around the world. An urgent task is to search for new medicines for the treatment and prevention of the development of fatty hepatosis.

Aim. Investigation of the composition of procyanidins and the biological activity of pine cones extract on a model of fatty hepatosis in vivo.

Materials and methods. To obtain the extract, cones of pine harvested on the territory of the Perm Region in December were used. The extract was obtained by processing raw materials with hot water. The component composition of procyanidins in the extract was determined using ultra-efficient liquid chromatography with a mass selective detector. Hepatoprotective activity was studied on a model of fatty hepatosis induced by the introduction of carbon tetrachloride in vivo on white mongrel rats. Silymarin was used as a reference for comparison.

Results and discussion. As a result of chromatographic examination, the following procyanidins were identified in a dry aqueous extract of pine cones – B2, B3, C1, C2, D1. As a result of hepatoprotective activity, it was found that no changes were detected in the control (intact) group during the pathohistological examination of the liver. Index (degree) of steatosis: 0. In the experimental group, whose animals were injected with carbon tetrachloride without subsequent treatment, it was found that about 50 % of hepatocytes of the histological section were in a state of macro- and microvesicular fatty dystrophy. The steatosis index is 2. In the group of animals injected with carbon tetrachloride and treated with Karsil®, normalsized hepatocytes with single fatty microvesicles in the cytoplasm. The steatosis index is 0. In the group of animals injected with carbon tetrachloride and treated with pine cones extract, hepatocytes of normal size with an euchromic nucleus, in the central parts in a state of macro- and microvesicular fatty dystrophy (about 20-25 % of all hepatocytes of the histological section). The steatosis index is 1.

Conclusion. The extract of pine cones contributes to a moderate decrease in the prevalence of protein, small-focal small-droplet fatty dystrophy of hepatocytes. To increase hepatoprotective activity, it is necessary to investigate the effect of the extract at a dose of 30 mg/kg and above.

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