Hepatoprotective Activity and Inhibitory Effect of Flavonoid ?Rich Extract of Brysocarpus Coccineus Leaves on Mitochondrial Membrane Permeability Transition Pore

The hepatoprotective activity of flavonoid ?rich extract of Brysocarpus Coccineus leaves, a medicinal plant with anti-tumour ,anti-inflammatory and analgesic property was assessed in sodium arsenite- intoxicated rats,and its effects on Mitochondrial Membrane Permeability Transition (MMPT) Pore which when opened could lead to the release of Cytochrome C, a point of no return for Apoptosis to take place, was investigated in-vitro .Results showed that sodium arsenite intoxication caused significant ( P< 0.05) increases in serum cholesterol level and activities of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Gamma glutamyl transferase (γGT). The elevation of the levels of these enzymes could be suggestive of an early liver injury. Interestingly, flavonoids ?rich extracts, treated with sodium arsenite ameliorated these effects as these parameters were restored significantly (P<0.05) nearly to their control levels thus suggests possible hepatoprotective activity of the extracts. Investigation of the flavonoid ?rich extract on MMPT pore in-vitro showed that calcium ions induced the opening of MMPT pore significantly (P<0.05) in rat liver mitochondria while spermine inhibited calcium-induced opening of the pore, indicating that the mitochondria were intact ab-initio. The results further revealed that inhibitory effects of the extract on the pore opening (200, 600,1000,1400, and 1800?g/ml) were 68.00,72.00, 83.20, 84.20 and 87.70% respectively. In this regard the highest degree of inhibition (87.70%) by the extract at 1800?g/ml compared favourably with that of spermine (86.70%), the standard inhibitor. The behaviour of the extract may not be unconnected with its ability to interact with the pore components making it impossible for the mega channel to be assembled. The inhibition of the MMPT pore by the extract may represent an effective therapeutic approach in several pathological conditions which require reduced rate of apoptosis .For chemotherapy further elucidation of the structure of the bioactive agent is required.