Campomanesia adamantium (Myrtaceae) fruits protect HEPG2 cells against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity

Campomanesia adamantium (Myrtaceae) is an antioxidant compounds-rich Brazilian fruit popularly known as gabiroba. In view of this, it was evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of pulp (GPE) or peel/seed (GPSE) hydroalcoholic extracts of gabiroba on injured liver-derived HepG2 cells by CCl(4) (4 mM). The results showed the presence of total phenolic in GPSE was (60%) higher when compared to GPE, associated with interesting antioxidant activity using DPPH• assay. Additionally, HPLC chromatograms and thin layer chromatography of GPE and GPSE showed the presence of flavonoids. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with GPE or GPSE (both at 800–1000 μg/mL) significantly (p < 0.0001) protected against cytotoxicity induced by CCl(4.) Additionally, the cells treated with both extracts (both at 1000 μg/mL) showed normal morphology (general and nuclear) contrasting with apoptotic characteristics in the cells only exposed to CCl(4). In these experiments, GPSE also was more effective than GPE. In addition, CCl(4) induced a marked increase in AST (p < 0.05) and ALT (p < 0.0001) levels, while GPE or GPSE significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced these levels, reaching values found in the control group. In conclusion, the results suggest that gabiroba fruits exert hepatoprotective effects on HepG2 cells against the CCl(4)-induced toxicity, probably, at least in part, associated with the presence of antioxidant compounds, especially flavonoids.