The Hepato-Protective Effect of Dandelion Hydroalcoholic Extract on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Toxicity

Background: The health status of the body depends on the precise functioning of the liver for the removal of waste materials and xenobiotic metabolism, and its dysfunction by toxic chemicals leads to serious health problems. Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. Objectives: This research aims to estimate the protective effect of the dandelion extract on hepatotoxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride. Methods: Dandelion was collected, and its hydroalcoholic extract was prepared. After treating the HepG2 liver cells with carbon tetrachloride, the percentage of cell viability was measured. Then, cells were treated with dandelion extract to select non-toxic concentrations of extract, and finally, the protective effect was measured in three programs: Pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment. The effect of dandelion extract on apoptosis induced by carbon tetrachloride was evaluated. Also, the expression of apoptotic markers Bax and Bcl-2 was evaluated. Results: Dandelion extract had no toxic effect on liver cells at concentrations below 200 μg/mL. Carbon tetrachloride decreased the liver cells' viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the three treatment schedules, co-treatment with a concentration of 12.5 μg/mL extract had the greatest protective effect. Dandelion extract significantly reduced apoptosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The extract exerted its protective effect by inhibiting apoptosis induced by carbon tetrachloride by decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Dandelion extract had a protective effect against carbon tetrachloride toxicity in liver cells.