Experimental evidence of hepatoprotective action of trigonelline during chemically -induced liver injury in rodents

Liver is an extremely important organ of the body, primarily responsible for detoxification. Liver contains several types of cells including liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells. It possesses a remarkable property of regeneration and hence diseases associated with the liver may take time to fully develop. Adulterated food, intake of toxins, alcohol, parasites, viruses, and life style are some of the important factors which may trigger liver diseases. Further, liver may be overloaded with toxins if synthetic medicines are utilized for a long time. Therefore, it becomes imperative to find some suitable alternatives which may be equally efficacious, challenging and can protect the liver from damage. In this context, the present study was undertaken to examine anti-inflammatory property of a plant-based alkaloid, trigonelline. In one group of animals (Albino rats), intraperitoneal injections of Nitrosodiethylamine were given to induce inflammation while in another group these injections followed a subsequent treatment with trigonelline to investigate protection. In this study, parallel controls were also run to compare the scientific data. Primary liver function test parameters such as levels of alkaline phosphatases (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) and bilirubin, as the established biomarkers, were examined. Further, quantity of liver collagen and anatomical alterations in the tissue were also taken into consideration to establish the effect of trigonelline. It was noted that trigonelline significantly declines the augmented levels of investigated parameters within two weeks and refurbished the architectural changes in the tissue. It is thus concluded that trigonelline may an alternative choice to invigorate liver cells and to correct hepatic functioning.