Evening primrose oil enriched with gamma linolenic acid and D/L-alpha tocopherol acetate attenuated carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury model in male rats via TNF-, IL-1, and IL-6 pathway

The modulatory role of primrose oil (PO) supplementation enriched with gamma-linolenic acid and D/L-alpha tocopherol acetate against a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage model was assessed in this study. Twenty male Albino rats were divided into four groups. The control group received corn oil orally. The PO group received 10 mg/kg P O orally. The CCl4 group received 2 mL/kg CCl4 orally and PO/CCl4 group; received PO and 2 mL/kg CCl4 orally. The relative liver weight was recorded. Serum liver enzymes, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and the expression of hepatic tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were assessed. The binding affinities of gamma-linolenic acid and D/L-alpha tocopherol constituents with IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were investigated using molecular docking simulations. Histopathological and electron microscopic examinations of the liver were performed. The results indicated that CCl4 elevated serum liver enzyme and hepatic MDA levels, whereas GSH levels were diminished. The upregulation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha gene expressions were induced by CCl4 treatment. The PO/CCl4-treated group showed amelioration of hepatic injury biomarkers and oxidative stress. Restoration of histopathological and ultrastructural alterations while downregulations the gene expressions of TNF-alpha, IL1-beta and IL-6 were observed. In conclusion, evening primrose oil enriched with gamma-linolenic acid and D/L-alpha tocopherol acetate elicited a potential amelioration of CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity.