Antioxidant Activity of Mahonia aquifolium Extracts Confers Cardioprotective, Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Effects

Oxidative and nitrosative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute cardiac, hepatic and renal injury. This study evaluated the cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects of five Mahonia aquifolium ethanolic extracts: green fruits (MGF), ripe fruits (MRF), leaves (ML), bark (MB), and flowers (MF). Wistar rats received 7 days of pretreatment prior to experimental induction of myocardial injury (isoproterenol), acute toxic hepatitis (acetaminophen), or acute kidney injury (gentamicin). Oxidative and nitrosative stress markers, electrocardiographic parameters and organ-specific injury markers were assessed. In the AMI model, all extracts significantly reduced 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels (p < 0.001) whereas ML, MB, and MF reduced AST levels (p < 0.01). In AH, MGF, MRF, ML and MF significantly reduced TOS and OSI (p < 0.001), while MGF, MRF, MB, and MF significantly reduced ALT levels. In AKI, all extracts significantly decreased serum and urinary creatinine levels (p < 0.001). Overall, the protective effects varied by extract type, with ML, MF, and MB showing promising antioxidant and organ-protective effects, while fruit extracts demonstrated notable hepatoprotective effects. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the protective effects of M. aquifolium extracts in experimental models of acute organ injury and warrant further investigation in studies with adequately justified sample sizes and dose-response characterization.